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N ORTttA MER1C-AN 



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MORE niRDS 





^IRAUD 

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 
Shelf iLJ.E S 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS 




COPYRIGHTED BY FRANCIS P. HARPER. 1895. 



Mexican Jacana. 



North American Shore Birds 



A HISTORY OF THE 



SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, PLOVERS AND THEIR ALLIES 

INHABITING THE BEACHES AND MARSHES OF THE 
ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC COASTS, THE PRAIRIES, ■ 
AND THE SHORES OF THE INLAND LAKES AND 
RIVERS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT : 



THEIR POPULAR AND SCIENTIFIC NAMES, TOGETHER WITH A FULL 

DESCRIPTION OF THEIR MODE OF LIFE, NESTING, MIGRATION AND 

DISPERSIONS, WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SUMMER AND 

WINTER PLUMAGES OF ADULTS AND YOUNG, SO THAT 

EACH SPECIES MAY BE READILY IDENTIFIED. 



A Reference Book for the Naturalist, Sportsman and Lover of Birds 

/BY 

DANIEL GIRAUD ELLIOT, F.R.S.E., Etc. 

EX-PRESIDENT AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 

Curator of Zoology in the Field Columbian Museum, Chicago; Author of "Birds of 

North America," Illustrated Monographs of Ant Thrushes, Grouse, 

Pheasants, Birds of Paradise, Hornbills, Cats, Etc. 



WITH SEVENTY=FOUR PLATES 



NEW YORK 
FRANCIS P. HARPER 

1895 



SEP qg 1891, ^ 



Qfwk\ 



.1': 



Copyright, 1895 

BY 

Francis P. Harper 




PREFACE. 

This book is not written so much for the experienced 
ornithologist, who should be familiar with most of its 
contents, as for those two large classes — the sportsmen, 
and those who love to study birds in their haunts. The 
first will find in these pages short life histories of the 
birds they are accustomed to shoot along the coasts or 
on the prairies, and by the lakes and rivers of our conti- 
nent, as well as the means by which each species pro- 
cured can be readily identified ; while the second class, 
as they wander along the beaches, or banks of stream, 
or even in some instances over the prairies carpeted 
with flowers, may learn to know and recognize the 
fairy-like creatures that are introduced to them in this 
book, as they are seen flitting on light and graceful 
wing over the landscape. In no sense can anything 
that has been written be regarded as a scientific trea- 
tise; on the. contrary, all scientific terms and phraseol- 
ogy have been, as far as possible, carefully avoided, 
while the descriptions of the birds and the accounts of 
their habits have been written to the best of the au- 
thor's ability in language " under standed of the people." 

To the various portions of a bird's plumage certain 
names have been applied by ornithologists, which to 
the non-scientific mind may savor of pedantry. Some 
of these, however, I have found it necessary to use, and 
although they may be unfamiliar to the general reader, 
yet I believe they will be as readily understood as any 
substitute would be, though couched in apparently 
simpler language. Thus, the long stiff feathers of the 
wing, instead of being described by that sentence, are 



vi PRE FA CE. 

called primaries, the ornithological term, because they 
are the first or most important, and without which no 
bird could rise and sustain itself in the air. They are 
sometimes called "flight feathers," but this term carries 
with it no clearer definition to the layman than "pri- 
maries," and consequently attains the desired result of 
simplicity or clearness no better. 

The long sentence given above is, of course, impossi- 
ble, objectionable in two ways — the space it occupies 
and the weariness that would arise from its constant 
repetition. In order, therefore, to render clear any term 
referring to, or describing any portion of, a bird's 
plumage, a "map" of a bird is given, and every part 
indicated, with the name it bears, clearly portrayed, thus 
serving as a handy dictionary, and explaining all the 
terms used in these pages. It is believed that with 
little trouble the use of this "map" will smooth away 
any difficulty arising from the occurrence of some 
unfamiliar word in the descriptions. A glossary will 
also be found defining all the terms used. 

To the author, the " Shore Birds " have been, from his 
boyhood, objects of special attraction, both for the sport 
they afforded and for their elegant forms and gentle 
natures; and it has been a great source of pleasure to 
watch them in their habitats whenever an opportunity 
occurred. From far Alaska and the Pacific coasts of the 
United States, across its wide domain in nearly every 
State of the Union ; and from the Gulf of St. Lawrence 
on the east to the Gulf of Mexico in the south, and 
along the Atlantic coasts, over to the adjacent islands 
such as Bermuda, Cuba, and the Windward Islands to 
Rio J aneiro in South America, he has shot and observed 
these little wanderers, and the major part of the accounts 
of their habits is derived from his own experience. 



PREFA CE. vii 

The nesting habits of certain species which resort 
within the Arctic Circle for the purposes of incubation, 
have been observed only by those who have penetrated 
those far Northern districts, and the accounts of these 
have been to a great extent derived from MacFarlane, 
Nelson, Murdoch, Dall, and Bannister, whose experi- 
ence in the Barren Grounds and Alaskan Peninsula and 
along the shores, and among the islands of Behring Sea, 
has enabled them to place on record valuable and inter- 
esting facts relating to the birds met with. A large 
proportion of the species mentioned in these pages 
breed within our own limits, and their ways and man- 
ners during that interesting period can be observed by 
any one who takes an interest in the subject. 

The tables at the end of the volume are constructed 
on the simplest plan possible, showing by graduated 
steps the various characters possessed by each species, 
as well as those distinguishing one bird from another. 
The one first given is an attempt to indicate the differ- 
ences that exist between the families ; this is followed 
by a table defining the genera, and under each genus 
as it is reached is a table which characterizes every 
species. So, if a Shore Bird is procured unknown to 
its possessor, he must first look in the table for Fam- 
ilies to see if it should be classed among Phalaropes, 
Stilts, Snipe, Plover, etc., and then to the table of gen- 
era in the family, to ascertain in which it is included. 
If the bird is not at once determined, the probability is 
that the investigator will be brought so near the right 
species as to find it in a short time. In a large group 
of birds, whose members have so many points of resem- 
blance, it is not to be expected that any scheme can be 
devised which will enable one without knowledge of the 
subject immediately to determine any bird he may 



viii PREFA CE. 

observe or procure, but by a little patience and slight 
familiarity in the use of these tables, the desired result 
can surely be obtained. 

The Latin names given at the head of the descriptions 
are, with one or two exceptions, those employed in the 
Check List of the American Ornithologists' Union. 

In measuring a bird so as to compare it with the 
various dimensions given for each species, total length 
means from the tip of the bill to end of tail as the speci- 
men lies extended on the table ; wing, from the bend 
or shoulder to end of longest primary ; tail, from the 
lump just below the rump to end of longest feather; 
bill (when culmen is stated), from the beginning of the 
feathers on the forehead along the ridge to the extreme 
point ; tarsus, from the joint or heel to root of toes; 
middle toe, from its connection with the tarsus to begin- 
ning of the claw. A scale drawn to one-tenth of an 
inch will be found on a separate page, affording a handy 
measure for obtaining dimensions of specimens. 

The birds from which the descriptions have been 
taken, also of a large proportion of the eggs, are in the 
collections of the American Museum of Natural History 
in New York, and in those of my friend, Mr. George B. 
Sennett, deposited in the same institution. 

The illustrations which ornament the volume and add 
so greatly to its usefulness and attractiveness are drawn 
by Mr. Edwin Sheppard, of the Academy of Natural 
Sciences of Philadelphia, an artist possessing excep- 
tional talent for portraying birds and bird life. 



CONTE' 

Preface . . 


NTS 








Pags 
V 


List of Illustrations 


, 






. xiii 


Glossary of Terms Explaining 
Introduction . 


Plumage 






. XV 

. 17 


Red Phalarope 
Northern Phalarope 
Wilson's 










21 
. 29 


American Avocet . 










• 3 2 


Black-necked Stilt . 










• 34 


European Woodcock 
American " . . 










♦ 37 

• 39 


European Snipe 
Wilson's 










• 44 

• 47 


Dowitcher 










• 52 


Long-billed Dowitcher . 
Stilt Sandpiper 
The Knot . 










• 57 
. 60 

• ^3 


Purple Sandpiper . 
Coues' Aleutian Sandpiper 
Prybiloff 

Sharp-tailed ' ' 
Pectoral " 










. 66 

• 69 

. 72 

• 74 
. 76 


Cooper's " 
White-rumped " 










• 79 
. 80 


Baird's " 










. 82 


Least " 










, 85 



x CONTENTS 










Page 


Long-toed Stint .87 


Dunlin 








89 


American Red-backed Sandpiper . 








90 


Curlew 








93 


Spoon-bill 




' 




95 


Semipalmated " 








97 


Western ' * 








99 


Sanderling ..... 








102 


Marbled Godwit 










105 


Pacific " . . 










107 


Hudsonian " 










no 


Black-tailed Godwit 










IX 3 


Greater Yellow-legs 










ii5 


Little 










118 


European Greenshank 










120 


Solitary Sandpiper 










122 


Western Solitary Sandpiper 










126 


Green 










127 


Willet .... 










129 


Western Willet 










132 


Wandering Tattler . 










134 


The Ruff 










• 13 6 


Bartram's Sandpiper 










J 39 


Buff-breasted Sandpiper 










144 


Spotted " 










147 


Long-billed Curlew 










151 


Hudsonian " 










i55 


Eskimo " 










158 


Bristly-thighed Curlew . 










161 





CONTEx 


VTS 








xi 


Page 


The Whimbrel 162 


The Lapwing 










163 


Black-billed Plover 










165 


European Golden Plover 










168 


American ' ' * 












170 


Pacific 












174 


Killdeer * 












175 


Semipalmated * 












178 


European Ring ' 












181 


Little 












. 182 


Piping * 












183 


Snowy ' 












. 187 


Mongolian ' 












. 189 


Wilson's ' 












. 191 


Mountain ' 












■ 194 


Plover-billed Turnstone 










• 197 


Turnstone 










• *99 


Black Turnstone 










• 203 


European Oyster-catcher 










• 205 


American ' ' 










. 207 


Frazar's " 










. 210 


Black 










. 212 


Mexican Jacana 










. 214 


Appendix 










. 217 


Index 












• 253 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



i . Outline of Snipe, explaining distribution of plumage 


{opposite page] 


XV 


2. Red Phalarope " 


" 


21 


3. Northern Phalarope 






a 


" 


25 


. 4. Wilson's " . 








tt 


u 


29 


5. American Avocet . 








u 


u 


3 2 


6. Black-necked Stilt . 








tt 


(I 


34 


7. European Woodcock 








it 


(I 


37 


8. American " 








it 


a 


39 


9. Tails, European Snipe 








tt 


a 


45 , 
47 


10. Wilson's Snipe 








it 


it 


11. " " Tail 








ti 


it 


5o 


12. Dowitcher 








it 


it 


52 


13. Long-billed Dowitcher . 








a 


u 


57^ 


14. Stilt Sandpiper 








it 


it 


60 


15. The Knot 








a 


tt 


63 


16. Purple Sandpiper . 








it 


a 


66 / 


17. Coues' Aleutian Sandpiper 








it 


a 


69 ' 


18. Prybiloff Sandpiper . 








11 


a 


72 / 


19. Sharp-tailed " . . , 








u 


a 


74 


20. Pectoral " 








u 


a 


76 


21. White-rumped Sandpiper 








it 


a 


80 


22. Baird's " 








u 


a 


82 


23. Least " 








it 


a 


85 


24. Long-toed Stint 








tt 


<i 


87 


25. American Red-backed Sandpiper 






11 


it 


90 V, 


26. Curlew *' 






a 


tt 


93/ 


27. Spoon-bill " 






11 


tt 


95 


28. Semipalmated " 






tt 


tt 


97 


29. Western Semipalmated " 






• » 


a 


99 


30. Sanderling 






it 


it 


102 


31. Marbled Godwit .... 






a 


u 


105 / 


32. Pacific " 








it 


tt 


107/ 


^^. Hudsonian " 








it 


tt 


1101/ 


34. Black-tailed " 








11 


tt 


113 " 


35. « " Tail 








it 


tt 


114 / 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



36. Greater Yellow-legs ^ 

37. Little " } 

38. European Greenshank 

39. Solitary Sandpiper 

40. Green " 

41. Willet . 

42. Wandering Tattler 

43. The Ruff 

44. Bartram's Sandpiper 

45. Buff-breasted " 

46. Spotted " 

47. Long-billed Curlew 

48. LIudsonian " 

49. Eskimo " 

50. Bristly-thighed " 

51. The Whimbrel 

52. The Lapwing 

53. Black-bellied Plover 

54. European Golden Plover 

55. American " " 

56. Killdeer 

57- 

58. Semipalmated " 

59. European Ring " 

60. Little " " 

61. Piping u 

62. Belted Piping " 

63. Snowy " 

64. Mongolian " 

65. Wilson's " 

66. Mountain " 

67. Plover-billed Turnstone 

68. Turnstone 

69. Black Turnstone 

70. European Oyster-catcher 

71. American " 

72. Frazar's " 

73. Black 

74. Mexican Jacana 



Tail 



[opposite page) 


T T - 


a a 


120 


tt tt 


122 / 


a tt 


127 / 


tt tt 


129 


a it 


134 


it a 


136 


tt it 


139 


it tt 


144 


tt a 


147 


it a 


J 5i 


a a 


155 


tt tt 


158 


a a 


161 


a tt 


162 


a it 


163/, 


tt a 


165 


tt a 


168 / 


tt a 
tt a 


170/ 
175 J 


it it 


177 


a a 


178 


a ti 


181 


it a 


182 


a a 


183 


a a 


186 / 


tt tt 


187/ 


it u 


189 


a a 


191 


it a 


194 
197 / 


tt tt 


a a 


199 


it a 


203 


it tt 


205 


a tt 


207 


a tt 


210 


t it 


212 


Frontispiece 



J 



Maxilla 



Superciliary stripe 

Forehead. \ Croifn 

Occiput,^^ 
\-_^£ar Co ve rts Interscapular 
.Side of Neck /*'/**-* 

..Back Neck ..> 



Lores. 
Cheek . 



Culm i 



.-— -fl acky'' 



XGon y S JuauZum.. 



Bend of 'Wi 



v- 



Lesser Coverts 

Middle Coverts — ■ 
Breast- 
Greater Coverts 



Secondaries'' 

Abdomen --" 
Primary Coverts 



tfnder Primary Coverts 



Scapulars 



Area within this styZe 



ZintrMantte 



Jtump 

Jertials 




Primaries 



.Heel 



l/n-der Wircy Coverts 



A xt liars 



Inner Toe- 



UpperTail- Coverts 
J Outer TailFeatkirs 

MiddleTail 
Feather 



LowerTail 
Coverts 



OUTLINE PLATE OF SNIPE. 



Copyrighted by Francis P. Harper, 1895. 



Area within this style 
y of I in ^-Mantle 



capulafs 



Jlump 
f Tertials 





Pri 



marie s 



\Heel 



UpperTail- Coverts 

! OtderTailFeathers 



MiddleTail 
\ Feather 



Lower Tail 
Coverts 



Copyrighted by Francis P. Harper, 1895. 



GLOSSARY. 

Maxilla. The upper half of bill. 

Culmen. The middle lengthwise line of maxilla. 

Mandible. The lower half of bill, usually slightly shorter than the 
maxilla. 

Gonys. Lower outline of mandible from tip to point of separation. 

Gape. Cleft between maxilla and mandible when open. 

Lores. Space between eye and base of maxilla. 

Forehead. Top of head from base of bill to crown. 

Superciliary Stripe, or Superciliaries. Line running usually from 
base of maxilla over the eye to side of occiput. 

Crown. Space on top of head from front line of eye to beginning of back 
slope of skull. 

Occiput. Hind part of skull, forming back slope of head. 

Nape. Upper portion of back of neck. 

Ear-Coverts. Loose-webbed small feathers overlying the ears. 

Auricular Region. Space about external opening of the ears. 

Cheek. Space between angle of jaw and bill. 

Side of Neck. Lateral portions of neck. 

Back of Neck. Portion from occiput to back. 

BACK. Space lying between base of hind-neck and rump. 

Scapulars. Feathers alongside the back, and overlying inner line of 
wing-coverts. 

Interscapular Region. Feathers of back lying between the scapulars 

Mantle. Back, scapulars and upper surface of wing. 

Bend of Wing. Angle of wrist-joint forming the foremost end of wing 
when closed. 

Lesser Coverts. Several rows of small feathers near bend of wing. 

Middle Coverts. Feathers lying below the lesser coverts, and which 
overlap each other in a reverse manner from the other coverts. 

Greater Coverts. Rather large feathers lying below the middle 
coverts and overlying the base of the secondaries. 

Secondaries. Feathers of varying length which are seated on the fore- 
arm (iilna), and sometimes sufficiently long to entirely cover the primaries. 

Tertials. Inner feathers of the wing springing from the humerus, more 
or less covered by the longer scapulars. 



xvi GLOSSAR Y 

Primaries. Long feathers of the wing growing from the hand and fin- 
ger bones. 

Primary Coverts. A series of stiff feathers overlying the base of the 
primaries, frequently concealed beneath the secondaries. 

Under Primary Coverts. Feathers covering the bases of the primaries 
on the under side of the wing. 

Under Wing Coverts. Feathers covering the under side of the wing, 
forming a lining. 

Axillars. Elongated graduated feathers growing from the arm pit, 
{axilla), and lying close to the body. 

Rump. Portion of the body between the back and upper tail-coverts. 

Tail. Stiff feathers of various lengths, born upon the last caudal verte- 
bra, and forming a rudder by which a bird steers its course during flight. 

Middle Tail Feathers. Broad feathers in the center which overlie 
and partly conceal the rest when the tail is closed. 

Upper Tail-Coverts. Feathers covering the base of the tail. 

Lower Tail-Coverts. Feathers beneath the tail. 

Chin. Space between the diverging branches of the mandible. 

Throat. Upper part of neck below the chin. 

Jugulum. Lower part of fore-neck between the throat and breasf 

Breast. Space between the jugulum and abdomen. 

Abdomen. The belly. 

Flanks. Feathers on side of body, lying along the central portion of the 
wing. 

Thigh. Bone between knee and heel. 

Heel. Upper extremity of tarsus. 

Tarsus. Bone from heel to base of foot. 

Outer Toe. Toe on outside of foot in front, usually next in length to 
middle toe. 

Middle Toe. The central, generally longest toe of the foot in front. 

Inner Toe. Smallest of front toes on inside of foot. 

Hallux, or Hind Toe. Small toe on back of tarsus, usually above the 
level of front toes. 



INTRODUCTION. 

SNIPES, SANDPIPERS, PLOVERS, ETC. 

THE great bird groups comprising the Snipes, Sand- 
* pipers, Plovers, and their allies form what is called 
the order Limicolce — Shore Birds, literally — "living in 
the mud." They have considerable affinity to Gulls, also 
to Cranes and Bustards. One family, containing the Ja- 
canas (singular birds with excessively lengthened toes, 
fitting them for their semi-aquatic life), while related 
to the Plovers in general structure, have also many 
affinities to the Rails. The three divisions into which 
the Limicolce are divided — the Snipes, Sandpipers, and 
Plovers — differ from each other in structure, but not 
very greatly in habits. The bill in the majority of in- 
stances serves to distinguish the members of the first 
two divisions from the last, this in the Snipe and Sand- 
piper being rather long as a rule, frequently flexible 
and sensitive at the tip, with the ridge of the maxilla 
usually level ; while the bill of the Plover is more 
pigeon-shaped, with the ridge of the maxilla (or upper 
portion of the bill) often considerably depressed near 
the head, and with a convex horny or hard portion at 
the tip, this part not flexible nor particularly sensitive, 
x^bsence of the hind toe was once deemed a strong, al- 
most unfailing Plover character, and while it is still 
one used to indicate a Plover, yet it must not by any 
means be relied upon as sufficient, for some, even true 
Plovers, have at least the hind toe in a rudimentary 

17 



18 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

form, and certain species of the other divisions are 
without any vestige of a hind toe. Snipes and Sand- 
pipers have the feathers of the head stop abruptly at 
the base of the bill ; the nostrils are placed in grooves 
which sometimes run nearly to the tip of the bill, and 
are narrow exposed slits. The body is usually slender, 
and the legs long, covered with transverse scales before 
and behind, and reticulated on the sides, with the ex- 
ception of the Wandering Tattler and the Curlews, 
which have the hind part of the leg covered with small 
hexagonal scales. In the North American species the 
hind toe is absent only in the Stilt and Sanderling, all 
the other species having this member well developed. 
Sometimes the toes are webbed at the base; either all 
the anterior toes are so furnished, or a web is present 
between the middle and one of the lateral toes. In 
some cases also lateral membranes are present on the 
toes, even or scalloped. The Snipes are apt to ob- 
tain their food by probing for it in the mud or sand, 
the sensitive tip indicating the presence and quality of 
the object touched by it. In the Plovers the feathers 
of the forehead do not cease so abruptly as in the 
Snipes, but in some instances reach the nostrils. 
These are short, rather wide, and open in a skin which 
fills the nasal groove. The eye is very large and lu- 
minous, and the head is large, rounded, sloping in front 
rapidly to the bill. The hind toe is usually absent, 
though in one species of true Plover (Black-breasted) it 
is present in a rudimentary form, and is well developed 
in the Turnstones and entirely wanting in the Oyster- 
catchers. In Jacana, of course, it is obtrusively pres- 
ent, with a claw exceeding the toe in length. The legs 
are usually rather short and covered with small scales, 
but some, as the Turnstones, have the forepart covered 



IN TR OD UC riON. 1 9 

with transverse scales. The body is fuller, shorter, 
and more rounded than is that of the Snipe ; and the gen- 
eral appearance is not so graceful and elegant. 

All the members of the order have long pointed 
wings and rather short tails. The primaries are stiff 
and narrow, the first being the longest and graduat- 
ing rapidly to the last or innermost, the difference 
of length between these extremes affording an excel- 
lent character for one genus of Snipe — Tringa. The 
secondaries rapidly lengthen in the reverse order, the 
innermost frequently reaching to the tail, forming be- 
tween these two classes of feathers, when the wing is 
spread, a deep emargination. The young of this order 
are what is called Prcecoces, or those that are able to 
run about as soon as they emerge from the shell, in 
contradistinction to the Altrices, or those that remain 
in the nest until they are able to fly. They are covered 
with a soft down, which in its distribution of colors in- 
dicates somewhat the markings of the adult dress, but 
which, from its close similarity to the various hues and 
tints of the surrounding locality in which the nest is 
placed, renders detection of their presence almost im- 
possible. In some species, mainly the Woodcock and 
true Snipe, the adult dress does not change in its gen- 
eral appearance throughout the year, but with the 
majority, the summer or breeding dress is succeeded in 
the autumn by a winter plumage, of which the principal 
hues are black, white, and gray. Only in occasional 
instances do any brilliant and conspicuous colors ap- 
pear, but as a rule the combinations of various tints and 
the distribution of even strongly contrasting hues are 
so beautifully arranged and harmoniously adjusted that 
all the species present a most attractive appearance 
and constitute very agreeable features in the landscape.' 



20 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Snipes and Plovers moult twice in the year — spring and 
autumn — and the first plumage of the young resembles 
somewhat the adult summer dress; but this soon 
changes to the winter plumage of their parents, and is 
the garb in which they present themselves, during their 
first migration, to the inhabitants of lands south of their 
breeding places. In some instances, from use and 
exposure, the feathers of the body become shortened 
by the wearing away of their margins, and then the 
bird presents a different aspect, as though it had almost 
moulted, the brighter colors of the summer dress hav- 
ing given way to the more subdued tints prominent in 
autumn, as the body colors or those lying towards the 
center of the feather come into view. These birds, 
properly speaking, make no nest, a slight depression in 
the ground, sometimes lined with grass, sufficing for 
the purpose, and the eggs, generally pyriform in shape, 
are dotted and spotted with various colors. The order 
is a very large one, represented in all parts of the 
globe, and contains about two hundred species. 




-€S^&-^c._ ^: 



^ : -: 



I 






0KI 



COPYRIGHTED BY FRANCIS P. HARPER. 1895. 

2. Red Phalarope. 



r 



RED PHALAROPE. 

HE Red or Gray Phalarope, Coot-footed Tringa, Sea- 
goose, Whale Bird, and Bowhead Bird, by each and 
all of which names it is known, is, like its relatives, a 
bird of the boreal regions, coming southward only 
when driven by the severity of the winter's cold, when 
it appears along our coasts and in the Ohio Valley. 
But it is more a maritime than an inland species, and 
finds its home upon the waves, being frequently seen 
one to two hundred miles from land. It has been pro- 
cured on Long Island, though rather rare, and I had a 
fine specimen in my possession in winter plumage, killed 
near Islip. It is doubtful if it goes on our Atlantic 
coast farther south than New Jersey, while in the 
autumn it is occasionally seen on the Western lakes and 
rivers, and on the Pacific Coast has been obtained as far 
south as Cape St. Lucas. It keeps in flocks, swims like 
a duck upon the water, and when at sea frequents the 
beds of floating weed and grass, on which it runs as 
though on solid ground, and feeds upon the minute Crus- 
tacea found clinging to the leaves. In northern lati- 
tudes it goes in large flocks, and is found in numbers 
in Alaska at Point Barrow, and at the mouth of the 
Yukon, in May and June. In the latter month they 
are usually mated, and are scattered over the grassy 
flats in couples feeding, and are tame and unsuspicious. 
Hunger satisfied, a few will rise on the wing and fly 
over the flats. These are soon joined by others, until 
at times several hundred may have gathered together, 



22 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

pursuing a most erratic course, as they rapidly pass 
over the land ; at one time rising high in the air, execut- 
ing swift and graceful evolutions, then descending and 
skimming along just over the ground, moving in per- 
fect unison and twisting from one side to the other with 
such regularity as to show alternately the upper and 
under side of the body, with its intermittent flashes of 
light and shade. Wearied at length, they again seek 
the grassy flats and scatter in quest of food. 

The female is the larger and handsomer bird, and 
she does the courting, while the male performs most of 
the duties of incubation, thus affording an instance of 
the exercise of "woman's rights" in the fullest degree. 
The nest is merely a depression in the damp flats, 
usually without any lining, in generally pretty wet sit- 
uations, and the number of eggs is mostly four. They 
vary greatly in color, some are pale buffy brown tinged 
with olive, others pale greenish gray, or sea green, pro- 
fusely blotched and spotted with purplish or dark brown, 
with underlying spots of pale grayish brown, largest, and 
running together frequently, on the larger end. They 
vary in size from .85 X 1.07 inches to .88 X 1.27. This 
species breeds all along the Arctic shores of Alaska 
and Siberia, also in Greenland, Iceland, and Spitzbergen, 
and in the last island the eggs have been found laid 
upon the bare ground. As soon as the young are able 
to fly, the birds gather in flocks and pass to the sea, 
though occasionally they frequent the ponds back of the 
beach. By the beginning of August they have com- 
menced to assume the gray winter plumage, and the 
old birds start on their southern migration, those that 
remain until late in the autumn being apparently the 
young of the year. The names "Whale Bird" and 
" Bowhead" are given to this Phalarope by the whalers, 



RED PHALAROPE. 23 

for the reason that they feed upon the animalculse 
which form the food of the right whale or bowhead, 
and so it follows that whenever a large number of 
these elegant birds are found congregated together at 
sea, the presence of whales is predicted with consider- 
able certainty. The dreary expanse of ice-dotted sea is 
frequently enlivened by the graceful forms of this beau- 
tiful species, which find sheltered resorts in the calm 
open spaces amid the great frozen field. They are 
among the last of their tribe to leave the cheerless 
North for summer climes. 



CR YMOPHIL US EULICARIUS. 

Habitat. — North portions of Old and New Worlds, in winter going 
south on Atlantic Coast to Middle States, and to Chili, on the Pacific. Ohio 
Valley — mostly a maritime species. Breeding in Arctic regions from 
Greenland to Alaska. 

Adult Female in Summer. — Nape, crown, forehead, sides of bill and 
chin, black ; sides of head and line around the eye, and another below 
the nape, pure white ; neck (except a narrow black and plumbeous line on 
the hind part) and entire under parts, deep purplish cinnamon ; back and 
scapulars, black, feathers margined with buff; primaries, brownish on outer 
web, blackish at tip, and brown, graduating into silvery white, on the inner 
web ; secondaries, brown, margined with white, one or two short ones almost 
pure white ; long inner secondaries, black margined with buff, or buffy 
white ; wing-coverts, dark gray, the median ones edged with whitish, the 
greater ones margined with white, forming a bar across the wing ; rump, 
plumbeous in center, white on sides ; upper tail-coverts, cinnamon or rusty 
red, the center of some of the middle ones black ; middle tail-feathers, 
black, remainder slate gray, the two outer ones dark rufous at tip ; bill, flat, 
yellow, or orange yellow, black at tip ; legs and feet, dull olive ; eyes, 
brown. Length, 7^-8 inches; wing, SX~S/4'y tail, 2)4', tarsus, y%\ 
culmen, 80-95. 

Male in Summer. — Similar to female, but duller in color. Feathers on 
crown and nape marked with rusty or yellowish brown. The white on 
sides of head is smaller and ill-defined, and feathers on abdomen are edged 
with white. 



24 NORTH AMLRICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Whiter Plumage. — Occiput and around eyes, with a narrow line on 
hind-neck and upper part of back, black ; rest of head, neck, and entire 
under parts, pure white ; back and scapulars, dark gray ; wings and rump, 
brownish black ; wing-coverts and secondaries, edged with white ; tail, 
brownish black, outer feathers palest; bill, dark, almost black; legs, 
grayish olive. 

Young, First Plumage. — " Crown, nape, back, and scapulars, dull black, 
the feathers edged with ochraceous ; wing-coverts, rump, and upper tail- 
coverts, plumbeous, the middle coverts bordered with pale buff, the tail- 
coverts with ochraceous ; head (except crown) and lower parts generally, 
white; the throat suffused with brownish buff." — Ridgway. 

Downy Young. — " Above, bright tawny buff, marked with broad irregular 
stripes of black ; superciliary stripes, bright tawny buff, separated only by 
a narrow and sometimes interrupted dusky streak ; crown, bright raw-umber 
brown bordered with black ; chin and throat, light fulvous buff, changing 
to smoky buff on chest; rest of lower parts, dull whitish." — Ridgway. 





:■ " 



A N 



COPYRIGHTED BY FRANCIS P. HARPER, 1895- 

3. Northern Phalarope. 



NORTHERN PHALAROPE. 

ACIRCUMPOLAR species, the Northern or Red- 
necked Phalarope is perhaps not so abundant in 
the extreme north as the Red Phalarope. It breeds on 
the islands in Behring Sea, as well as on the north coast 
of Siberia, and is common in the interior of Northern 
Alaska. It is a summer visitor to Greenland, Iceland, 
and the Faroes, and breeds on Nova Zembla and the 
New Siberian Islands, also above the pine regions of the 
Doorefjeld as far south as latitude 62 , and Middendorf 
found it breeding on the Pacific Coast on the west shore 
of Okhotsk Sea to south latitude 55 . It is a lovely, 
graceful species, gentle and unsuspicious, at home upon 
the bosom of the ocean, frequenting the floating masses 
of kelp and other weeds and grasses, seeking the small 
worms, insects, and minute crustaceans, which form its 
principal food. On the water this species floats with 
airy lightness, and moves as easily as a feather when 
wafted by a gentle breeze over the surface of a placid 
pool. It advances gracefully, keeping time with each 
stroke of the feet by a motion of its head and neck, 
turns rapidly and snatches some microscopic morsel 
from the surface of the water. It goes in flocks, con- 
stantly uttering a sharp metallic tweet or twick, and 
is always in motion, swimming over the surface or 
flying from one mass of weed to another. Early in 
May it arrives at the breeding grounds, and the females 
commence to make love to the apparently indifferent 
males, using all the wiles and blandishments generally 

25 



26 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

employed by one of the sterner sex (when bent on a 
like purpose) to gain the favor and secure the affection 
of the object of its adoration. And the male is as coy 
and retiring as the most bashful maiden, turning away 
from the proffered attentions, first to this side, then to 
that, even flying to the opposite side of the pool, or to 
another near by ; but all in vain, for he is followed by 
the fair one who has chosen him from his fellows, and 
there is no escape. He swims rapidly along, but she is 
ever near, and with arched neck circles about him, 
rising on wing at times and poising above him, and 
producing a sharp series of sounds by quick strokes of 
the pinions. At last, like any other poor bachelor so 
beset, he yields, and the nest, a slight structure of dry 
stalks, is placed in the center of a thick tuft of grass, 
The eggs are four in number, pale, or rich buff, or pale 
olive, blotched and spotted with blackish brown and pale 
brown, with underlying grayish markings. On these 
the poor male, a victim to woman's rights, is obliged to 
sit the greater part of the time, the female amusing 
herself on the pool near by. If disturbed from the 
nest, the birds will fly to the water and swim about 
apparently unconcerned, moving their heads and necks 
with quick jerks and sipping the water with their bills. 
By the middle of July the young are able to fly, and 
towards the end of the month a few of the autumnal 
feathers commence to appear, and old and young gather 
together in flocks of a hundred or more and assemble 
on the shores, near the borders of ponds or rivers, 
where they remain until the last of September, when 
they seek milder climes. The flight of this species is at 
times very rapid, and the bird frequently twists and 
turns in a zigzag course like the common Snipe. I 
have frequently seen large flocks of this beautiful 



NORTHERN PHALAROPE. 27 

species in the " inland passage " of Alaska, and about 
the mouths of the rivers, disporting themselves on the 
water, or flying above its surface in many graceful evo- 
lutions. It was always very tame and gentle, allowed 
one to approach quite near, and constantly uttered a 
low tweet, as though the different individuals were car- 
rying on a general conversation. It is a very sociable 
bird, and large numbers live together apparently in 
most amiable intercourse. In winter the Northern 
Phalarope goes frequently far to the south, and has 
been taken in the Bermudas, Guatemala, and the Isth- 
mus of Tehuantepec. 

PHALAROPUS LOBATUS. 

Habitat. — Arctic regions of both hemispheres, where it breeds to north 
latitude 73 in the western, and to limits of forest in the eastern, section. 
South in winter to the Tropics. 

Adult Female in Suni7ner. — Head, hind-neck, and back, dark plumbeous, 
the feathers on back and scapulars margined with rusty buff; a white 
spot above and below the eye ; sides and front of neck and upper part of 
breast, chestnut, bordered beneath on the breast by a line of plumbeous, 
narrowest in the center ; chin and upper part of throat and rest of under 
parts, pure white ; flanks, white, streaked with sooty black ; wings, blackish 
brown, greater coverts margined with white, forming bar across wing ; 
primaries, brownish black ; center of rump, black, sides white ; tail, black- 
ish brown ; bill, black; legs and feet, lead color; iris, dark brown. Total 
length, 7 inches ; wing, 4 ; tail, 2 ; tarsus, .75-85 inch. 

The Male is smaller and of not so bright a plumage ; the head is sooty, 
marked slightly with light brown, and the back is more marked with 
ochracCous. The sides of the neck and breast are not so deep a chestnut 
and not so sharply defined. Over the ears there is a trace of the white 
eye-stripe. 

Adult in Winter Plumage. — Forehead, stripe over the eye, chin, cheeks, 
throat, and rest of under parts, pure white ; a black spot before the eye ; 
crown, gray ; a mixed black and gray stripe under the eye ; sides of neck, 
white, washed with brownish yellow ; hind-neck, bluish gray ; back and 
wings, bluish gray, feathers margined with grayish white ; rump and tail, 
blackish brown, the central tail-feathers bordered with grayish white. 



28 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Young, First Plumage. — Crown, plumbeous dusky, sometimes streaked ; 
back and scapulars, blackish, margined with buff; innermost secondaries, 
upper tail-coverts, and tail, dark brown, margined with chestnut ; forehead, 
front of the eye, and under parts, white ; sides of breast, washed with brown. 

Downy Young. — " Above, bright tawny, the rump with three parallel 
stripes of black, inclosing two of lighter fulvous than the ground color; 
crown covered by a triangular patch of mottled darker brown, bounded 
irregularly with blackish ; a black line over ears not reaching to the eye ; 
throat and rest of head, light tawny fulvous ; rest of lower parts, white, 
becoming grayish posteriorly." — Ridgway. 



WILSON'S PHALAROPE. 

/~"\NE of the most beautiful of all our waders, this 
^-^ handsome and graceful bird is restricted to the 
New World, and is more of an inland species, rarely- 
visiting the seacoast. It is abundant and generally dis- 
tributed throughout the Mississippi Valley, and does not 
frequent very high northern latitudes like its relatives, 
but, on the other hand, penetrates much farther south- 
ward than any other species of Phalarope. On the 
eastern portion of the United States it is rather a rare 
bird, being occasionally met with on the seacoast from 
Massachusetts to New Jersey. It is quite common in 
Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, the Dakotas, Utah, and Ore- 
gon, in all of which States it breeds, and also on the 
Saskatchewan Plains, where Richardson found it breed- 
ing, but was not seen beyond the fifty-fifth parallel, nor 
at Hudson's Bay. As a rule, Wilson's Phalarope goes in 
small companies, though at times large flocks of several 
hundred are met with. It is not very shy, frequently 
permitting one to approach within a few feet, and it 
does not swim so much upon the water as is the habit of 
the other species, but wades about up to its belly pick- 
ing its food from off the surface. When necessary, 
however, it swims gracefully and with ease, and the 
young soon after emerging from the egg are equally at 
home upon the surface of ponds, paddling about and 
diving with facility. The female is the larger and 
altogether the handsomer bird, the male having very 
little of the brilliant tints which render her so attractive 



30 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS, 

when arrayed in her full summer dress. Upon him, 
too, devolves the duty of incubation to a very great de- 
gree, the female amusing herself upon or near the 
water. Like the other species of Phalarope, she makes 
all the advances at the pairing season, and sometimes 
more than one female fixes her affection upon some 
particular male, who thereupon has but little peace, as 
he is pursued from place to place by the rival suitors. 
Finally, the matter having been successfully arranged, 
the winged Dido bears off her ^neas, and a slight de- 
pression having been scratched in the soil and lined 
with grass, or a loosely constructed nest made in a 
clump of grass, the eggs, three or four in number, are 
deposited and the male assumes the novel and unusual 
duties for one of his sex, of incubation. The eggs vary 
from a fawn color to a rufous drab, profusely spotted 
and speckled with different shades of brown, thickest at 
the larger end, and measure .94 inch in breadth by 
1.37 in length. Wilson's Phalarope is a rather silent 
species, its note having a kind of nasal quack-like 
sound. Its food is similar to that of the other Phala- 
ropes. 

STEGANOPUS TRICOLOR. 

Habitat. — Temperate North America, mainly inland. Breeds from 
Northern Illinois and Utah to the Saskatchewan region. In winter goes 
south to Patagonia. 

Adult Female in Summer, — Forehead and top of head, pale bluish 
gray; nape and center of hind-neck, white; a narrow white line commenc- 
ing half-way between nostril and eye, passing over the latter ; line through 
the eye and auricular region, velvety black, graduating into rich deep chest- 
nut, and continued as a narrow stripe on either side of the back to the tip 
of the scapulars ; mantle, pearly gray ; wings, dull pale brown, the greater 
coverts edged with white ; primaries, dull brown ; rump, dull brown ; upper 
tail-coverts, dull brown margined with white ; tail, pale brown, marked 
with white ; fore-neck, cinnamon buff, graduating on the chest and flanks 



WILSON'S PIIALAKOPE. 31 

into white ; chin, throat, cheeks, and under parts, pure white ; bill, legs, 
and feet, black. Length, 9^-10 inches; wing, 5^; tarsus, l l / 3 ; cul- 
men, 1%. 

Adult Male in Summer. — Smaller than the female and very much duller 
in color of. plumage. Top of head, brown, feathers tipped with gray ; 
broad mark over the eye and middle of hind-neck, white ; sides of neck, dull 
rufous ; back and wings, blackish, feathers margined with pale brown ; rump 
and tail, brownish black, feathers edged with white ; primaries, blackish 
brown ; fore-neck, pale cinnamon ; chin, cheeks, throat, and under parts, 
white. The brilliant markings of the female are either absent or faintly 
indicated, and he is a very plainly colored bird beside his beautiful mate. 
Length, 8^-9 inches; wing, \% ', culmen, 1% ; tarsus, 1%. 

Winter Plumage. — Upper parts, ash gray; rest of plumage, white, the 
breast shaded with pale gray. 

Young. — Upper parts, blackish, feathers bordered with buff, distinct on 
inner secondaries; upper tail-coverts, superciliaries, and under parts, pure 
white, tinged with rusty on the breast; tail, ash, feathers edged and 
marbled with white. 

Downy Young. — " Bright tawny, paler beneath, the belly nearly white ; 
occiput and hind-neck, with a distinct median streak of black, on the former 
branching laterally into two narrow irregular lines ; lower back and rump, 
with three broad black stripes ; flanks, with a black spot, and region of tail 
crossed with a wide bar of the same.'' — Ridgway. 



AMERICAN AVOCET. 

IRREGULARLY distributed throughout temperate 
*■ North America, the Avocet is rather less abundant 
on the Atlantic Coast, but very numerous in the West, 
on the plains of Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, 
Utah, and Southeastern Oregon, not above an altitude of 
4,800 feet. It breeds in various localities on the eastern 
coast and throughout the interior in suitable places, as 
far north as the valley of the Saskatchewan, and south 
into Texas. It is probably the best swimmer among 
the waders, and it is also possessed of a compressed, 
thick, duck-like plumage impervious to wet or damp- 
ness. When not molested in their haunts, they are ex- 
ceedingly tame and confiding, hardly paying any atten- 
tion to the report of a gun, but, like other creatures, 
when much hunted become wild and wary. On tak- 
ing wing the long legs are permitted to hang loosely 
down, until the bird is well under way, when they are 
stretched out stiffly behind to balance the long neck. 
Just before alighting they sail along for a short dis- 
tance, and when on their feet the wings are elevated, 
as is the habit of various species of Plovers, etc., and 
then gradually tucked away beneath the feathers of the 
mantle and flanks. The food of the Avocet Is insects 
and their larvae, small Crustacea, etc., and it is a beau- 
tiful sight to see a flock of these birds feeding. Wad- 
ing along on the shallows the bills are moved regularly 
from side to side, through the water or mud, with the 

motion a man makes when mowing, each bird keeping 

32 




5. American Avocet. 






A ME RICA N A VO CE T. 33 

to the side and a little behind the leader, and if the 
water is deep the head and neck are frequently im- 
mersed. They advance into the water up to their bellies, 
and if it should suddenly deepen they keep right on by 
swimming, not at all incommoded by the loss of their 
foothold. This species frequently utters a sharp click- 
like cry, and is often very noisy when on the wing, 
especially when disturbed from the nest. This is gen- 
erally placed in grass in moist places, and is composed 
of twigs, grass, and sometimes seaweed. The eggs 
are four in number, varying in color from dark olive to 
buff, and spotted thickly with brown of various shades, 
such as chocolate, sepia, etc. 

This species beside the name at the head of this 
article is called White Snipe and Blue Stocking. 

RE C UR VIR S TRA A ME RICA NA . 

Habitat. — Temperate North America, north to the Saskatchewan and 
Great Slave Lake, south to Guatemala, Cuba, and Jamaica. Rather rare 
in the eastern United States. Breeding from Great Slave Lake to Texas. 

Adult in Summer. — Forehead and chin, rosy white; head, neck, and 
upper part of breast, light cinnamon ; wings, tenninal half of greater 
coverts, and inner secondaries, white ; lesser coverts, inner scapulars, 
and near-lying feathers of the back, brownish black ; primaries, brownish 
black, lighter on tip of inner web ; entire rest of plumage, white, except 
tail, which is pearly gray ; bill, black ; legs and feet, pale blue ; iris, bright 
red; webs, partly flesh color. Length, 15^-18^ inches; wing, 8^-9 ; 
carsus, 3^ ; culmen, 3^. 

Winter Plumage. — Same as above, except the cinnamon of head, neck, 
and breast is replaced with white, tinged with bluish gray. 

Young. — Similar to the winter plumage, but the primaries are tipped 
with whitish, scapulars and back transversely mottled with buff, and hind- 
neck tinged with rufous. 



BLACK-NECKED STILT. 

A BUNDANT in certain portions of the Western and 
^*- Gulf States, this long-legged wader is met with only 
occasionally in the eastern and northeastern section of 
our land, although specimens have been procured at 
Grand Menan, and near Calais, Maine. While its range 
is similar to that of the Avocet, with which it often asso- 
ciates, it is most abundant in the middle Western States 
and thence southward, but does not proceed so far to 
the northward as its ally. The long legs appear so 
slender as to be hardly capable of upholding the weight 
of the body, and the bird has the habit, just after 
alighting, of standing with half-bent legs and trembling 
wings, as though unable to keep itself erect, and this 
curious custom has doubtless given rise to the belief 
that the legs are too feeble to afford the necessary sup- 
port. But the fact is, that the Stilt walks firmly and 
gracefully, the legs much bent at the heel at every 
step, as is only natural, and there is no more unsteadi- 
ness in its gait than is witnessed in other birds with 
but a quarter of its length of limb. Provided with long 
wings, that reach when folded beyond the tip of the 
tail, this species has a flight both swift and easily main- 
tained, and it has the habit in its progress of exhibiting 
alternately the upper and under side of the body, like 
many other species of the Limicolce, affording a pleas- 
ing contrast from the black of the back to the pure 
white of the under parts, brightened by the long lake- 
red legs extending beneath and beyond the tail. While 

34 




6. Black-necked Stilt. 



BLACK-NECKED STILT. 35 

amply provided with the means of seeking its food 
in shallow water, the Stilt is a poor swimmer, from the 
fact that its feet are not webbed, but when it finds itself 
in too deep water for wading, as occasionally happens, 
it progresses for a short distance without much diffi- 
culty, until able again to reach the bottom or the shore. 
This species goes in flocks, but frequently is seen only 
in pairs. The food consists of insects and their larvae, 
small crustacea, worms, fry of fish, etc., which are deftly 
seized by the point of the sensitive bill, and in feed- 
ing often the head and part of the neck is plunged 
beneath the water. In the United States the Stilt 
breeds in the North from Southeastern Oregon and 
Great Salt Lake to the Gulf States. The nest is either 
a slight depression in the ground lined with grass, or 
else a sort of platform of straw and grass placed in the 
marshes, sometimes just raised above the level of the 
water. The eggs, three or four in number, are drab, 
brownish olive, occasionally rufous, for the ground color, 
blotched and spotted with brownish black, and measure 
i. 60-1. 85 inches in length by 1.1 5-1. 25 in breadth. It is 
stated that incubation is performed by both sexes, but 
I have not been able to corroborate this fact myself. 
The eye of the Stilt is large and beautiful, and the cry 
is a sharp click-like note, frequently uttered on the 
wing, especially when disturbed from its nest. The 
young run almost as soon as hatched. This species is 
also called Lawyer, White Snipe, Stilt, Tilt, Long- 
shanks, and Tildillo. 

HIM A N TOP US MEXICAN US. 

Habitat. — Northern United States, southward to Peru on the west, West 
Indies and Brazil on the east. Rare in the Eastern States, except Florida 
Breeds from Southeastern Oregon and Great Salt Lake to the Gulf 
States. 



36 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Adult Male. — Forehead, spot above and below the eye, chin, throat, 
front and sides of neck, and entire under parts, together with rump and 
upper tail-coverts, pure white ; remainder of head, hind-neck, back, and 
wings, glossy greenish black, brightest on the back and wings ; tail, ashy 
white , bill, black ; legs and feet, lake or rosy pink ; iris, crimson. 

Adult Female. — Differs from the male in having the back and scapulars 
brownish slate. 

Young in First Plumage. — Have the feathers of the back, scapulars, 
and tertials bordered with buffy white, while the back of head and nape 
is mottled with the same color. 

Downy Young. — Above, grayish white, mottled with dusky, with broad 
black blotches on back and rump ; wings, rufous ; head and hind-neck, 
grayish, mottled with black, and a vertical black stripe on head ; under 
parts, white, washed with gray on fore-neck. 




Plf 



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EUROPEAN WOODCOCK. 

THE European Woodcock is included in the list of 
North American birds simply from the fact that indi- 
viduals are occasionally captured within our limits. It 
is much larger than our well-known species, frequently 
weighing fourteen ounces, and has a very differently 
colored plumage. In the Eastern Hemisphere it ranges 
throughout the northern parts from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific, and breeds as far north as the Arctic Circle, 
and south to the Azores, Madeira, in the Himalayas at 
10,000 feet elevation, and in Japan. The winters are 
passed in the Mediterranean basin and in similar lat- 
itudes, as far east as China. Chiefly a nocturnal bird, it 
frequents the woods during the day and seeks the 
marshes and other suitable grounds in the evening 
to feed. In its habits it resembles our own bird and 
the food is similar. As a table delicacy it is highly 
esteemed in European countries, but in gastronomic 
qualities it is inferior to the American species. The 
sexes are alike in plumage, the female, as usual, being 
the larger. The nest is not much more than a depres- 
sion in the ground, lined with a few leaves and grass. 
The eggs, four in number, vary from grayish white to 
brownish buff, with irregular reddish brown and ashy- 
gray spots. Where any unusually large woodcock is 
reported to have been killed within our limits, it is 
pretty certain to be this species. 

SCOLOPAX RUSTICOLA. 
Habitat. — Northern portions of Old World. Accidental in eastern 
North America. 

Adult. — Anterior portion of crown and forehead, buff gray, with narrow, 

37 



3 S NOR TH A ME RICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

central, dark -brown lines ; remainder of crown and nape, black, crossed by 
four narrow buft or pale rusty lines, a conspicuous dark-brown line from 
nape to eye ; chin and throat, white, spotted with brown ; neck all around, 
buff, crossed with fine dark-brown lines ; upper parts reddish chestnut, ver- 
miculated with buffy spots and brown lines, and blotched on the back and 
scapulars with black, the latter as well as the back mixed with light 
grayish ; rump, reddish brown, barred narrowly with black, the upper 
tail-coverts tipped with gray or buffy ; tail, black, margined on outer web 
with chestnut and tipped with grayish buff on the upper surface, and with 
silver white on the lower ; entire under parts, grayish buff, narrowly barred 
with brown ; primaries, dark brown, transversely banded with cinnamon on 
outer webs ; bill, flesh color, graduating into brown for the terminal third ; 
legs and feet, flesh color; iris, hazel. Length, 13^ inches; wing, 8; 
culmen, 3^ ; tarsus, \y z . 

Young differ chiefly in having buff bases to the gray tips on the upper 
surface of the tail-feathers, and the chestnut on the outer webs becomes 
bars reaching to the shaft. 



AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 

KNOWN familiarly to sportsmen and others through- 
out the country, this favorite game bird is gradu- 
ally becoming scarcer within our limits. The high price 
it brings in the market, and the constant demand for it 
from the wealthy denizens of our cities, has caused it to 
be assiduously sought after by gunners in every locality 
where it was likely to be found, and from the time the 
young are scarcely able to fly until they depart on 
their migrations into places where, perchance, they may 
obtain a temporary refuge, their pursuit is never re- 
laxed nor their slaughter discontinued. It is found 
generally throughout the eastern United States, but 
rare west of the Mississippi, and wherever found in 
summer, there it breeds. Although known to the 
majority by its name of Woodcock, it nevertheless has 
many aliases in the different parts of the country which 
it visits, and is called Big Mud, Big-headed, Blind 
and Wood and Whistling Snipe ; Bog-sucker, Tim- 
ber Doodle, Bog Bird, Night Partridge, Night Peck, 
Hookum Pake, Pewee, Labrador Twister, Whistler, 
and probably many others. Being a migratory species, 
the length of its stay in any particular locality depends 
greatly upon the weather, for though perhaps very 
abundant on one day, yet if during the night from 
sudden cold their feeding ground becomes frozen, by 
the next morning not a bird would be found, all having 
departed to a milder clime. It migrates always at 
night, when, indeed, it is most active, for it is a noc- 



40 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

turnal bird, its sight being much better after the sun 
has departed than when the eye is exposed to the full 
light of day. In the Northern States it breeds in March, 
the eggs being often dropped when the ground is still 
covered with snow. The nest is a very slight affair, 
merely a depression in the ground, lined with leaves 
and grass, and formed in a secluded part of the woods, 
and the average number of eggs is four. They are of 
different shades of buff, thickly spotted with brown, and 
measure from i. 53-1. 58 X 1. 14- 1.20 inches. The Wood- 
cock resorts to the border of rivulets and margins of mud- 
dy ground, and procures its food by thrusting the bill 
up to the nostrils into the soft earth, and by means of 
the flexible extremely sensitive tip, seizes and draws out 
the worms which constitute its principal food, swallow- 
ing often as many in the course of the night as would 
equal its own weight. It also frequents the cornfields, 
and in the autumn is found upon the hillsides often at 
a considerable distance from any water, where it turns 
over dead leaves to seek for worms lying beneath. 
The eye of the Woodcock is large, bright, and beauti- 
ful, placed high upon the head, a position that protects 
it from injury when the bird thrusts the bill deep in the 
mire, at the same time enabling it, when thus em- 
ployed, to see any approaching danger at a considerable 
distance. 

The flight of this bird is rapid and erratic, and when 
flushed in its retreats it rises to the height of the sur- 
rounding bushes and almost immediately drops to the 
ground, upon which it runs for a short distance. No 
sport is more attractive than that of Woodcock shooting, 
although it has its drawbacks, such as the dense covert 
through which the g unner must force his way, his path 
beset by vines and interlacing branches that impede his 



AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 41 

progress and prevent him from seeing his faithful four- 
footed companion, who may at the very moment be 
standing rigid, as though carved in stone, but a few feet 
from him, with the hot scent of the close-lying bird well- 
ing up into his sensitive nostrils. Then, in the humid 
July days the heat is frequently oppressive in the low 
swamps, and too often the plaintive song of the mos- 
quito is persistently crooned in the sportsman's ear, and 
he receives on every exposed part the sharp attentions 
of this never-dismayed insect. In the spring the Wood- 
cock has some curious habits. With its bill inclined 
towards the ground, and with a forward movement of 
the body, it emits a sharp note resembling ping-k or 
kwan-k, and then rises in a spiral flight to a consid- 
erable height, with a shrill sound caused by the wings, 
and after flying in irregular and erratic circles at its 
greatest elevation, returns rapidly to the ground, ut- 
tering a sharp whistle, and alights near the spot from 
which it rose. When disturbed, on taking wing, 
a sharp whistling sound is produced, that, many 
claim, proceeds from the mouth of the bird, but this 
is difficult to prove, and it is more probable that it 
is caused by the wings, the falcate primaries cut- 
ting the air as they are moved by the rapid beat of the 
pinions. 

Once I was watching a Woodcock in the early spring, 
as I remained concealed from its view in the midst of 
a swamp, and was surprised at its curious antics. After 
standing motionless for a few moments, as if in deep 
thought, it would suddenly draw its head close towards 
its back, with the bill pressing hard against the breast, 
drop the wings until the primaries touched the ground, 
and raise the tail with the feathers widely outstretched 
and elevated, so that the long under-coverts were 



42 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

plainly seen, and in this compressed attitude of a minia- 
ture turkey-cock, would strut about with quick elevation 
of the feet, as though the intensity of its feelings were 
altogether so overpowering as to preclude its walking 
upon such an ordinary every-day thing as common 
swamp mud. In a few moments the spasm seemed to 
pass, and coming back to the realization of its usual 
condition and surroundings, it would look about for a 
moment and again relapse into a contemplative mood. 
This action was repeated several times, but the bird 
uttered no sound. 

The young are comical-looking little objects, covered 
with a yellowish down marked with black, and with a 
bill apparently much too long for them to successfully 
manage. They totter about as soon as hatched, imme- 
diately deserting the vicinity of the nest, and are not 
able to fly until nearly a month old. The female is 
very attentive to them, and often transports them about 
by clasping the little creatures with her legs and press- 
ing them against her body. She also practices all the 
arts usual to birds, of counterfeiting lameness, or inabil- 
ity to fly, in order to distract the attention from her off- 
spring of any intruder who has suddenly approached 
the helpless young, or nest with its complement of 
eggs, and entice him to follow her with the hope of a 
speedy capture, when, having drawn the object of her 
fears to a safe distance, she disappears on sounding 
wings into the recesses of the swamp. During the 
greater portion of the day the Woodcock remains con- 
cealed and quiet, its activity and searching for food 
commencing with the gloaming. In Georgia, North 
Carolina, and some other Southern States the Woodcock 
is resident throughout the year, but appears in the 
Northern States from its southern rambles in February, 



AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 43 

and begins at once to busy itself with the pleasures of 
courtship and its resulting duties. 

PHILOHELA MINOR. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America, westward to the plains and north to 
the British Provinces. Accidental in the Bermudas. Breeding within its 
range. 

Adult. — Head, rufous ash, with a dark-brown line from mouth to eye, 
and another across ear-coverts ; occiput, black, crossed by three narrow 
buff lines ; upper parts, variegated with ash, rufous, and black, the latter 
in large blotches on the back and wings, the ash frequently arranged in 
bars on the interscapular region ; entire under parts, reddish buff, washed 
with gray on the breast and brightest on the flanks and under the wings ; 
tail, black, tipped with ash above, and spotted on margin of outer webs 
with rufous and tipped beneath with white ; under tail-coverts, with cen- 
tral lines of black ; quills, dusky brown, first three narrow and somewhat 
sickle shape ; bill, brown, yellowish at base of mandible and black at tip ; 
feet and legs, pale reddish. Length, ioj^-ii^ inches; wing, 4^-5^; 
tail, 2% ; bill, 2^-3 ; tarsus, 1.4. 

Downy Young. — Head, grayish buff, with a line from bill to eye, top of 
head, extending irregularly down the hind-neck ; spot behind the eye, con- 
nected with a larger one below it, brownish or chestnut black ; back, 
blotched and vermiculated with black, grayish brown, and buff; a broad 
dark-brown stripe on lower back and rump; under parts, isabelline, 
washed with gray on the throat, reddish buff on flanks and belly, fading 
into pale buff on lower abdomen; wings, snuff brown, feathers margined 
with buff. 



EUROPEAN SNIPE. 

HTHIS is the common Snipe of the Old World, and in 
* its habits does not differ from our Wilson's Snipe. 
It is found throughout Europe and Asia, as far south 
as North Africa, and eastward to the Philippine Islands. 
It breeds throughout Northern Europe and Siberia, but 
is rare north of latitude 70 . It has been found in con- 
siderable numbers at times in Greenland, and Rein- 
hardt thought it bred there, but no eggs have been 
taken on that island. In Bermuda its appearance can 
only be considered as purely accidental. In North 
America it has never been met with, and its adoption 
into our avi-fauna can only be authorized by acceding 
the possibility of its passing from Greenland to our 
northern boundaries, but it is in no sense a North 
American bird. Its cry or note resembles gick-jack, 
gick-jack y quite different from the harsh scaipe of the 
American species. While the usual number of tail- 
feathers is fourteen, individuals are occasionally found 
with sixteen, and sometimes with only twelve. Pale or 
albinoid varieties, and also very dark or melanoid indi- 
viduals, have been procured. These last have even 
received a distinct name, Scolopax sabinii, and the 
bird with sixteen feathers in the tail has been called S. 
brehmii, while a large rufous-colored individual was 
designated a 5. russata. None of these, however, are 
worthy of separate recognition. The nest of this 
species is only a depression in the ground lined with 

grass, usually in a bunch of rushes, or amid the grass. 

44 



EUROPEAN SNIPE. 45 

The eggs are four in number, varying from green to 
greenish buff, blotched with dark reddish brown, thick- 




TAIL OF EUROPEAN SNIPE. 



est at the largest end, and with underlying spots of 
purplish gray. They measure from 1.51-1.59 X 1.08- 
1.15. The shape is pyriform. 



GALLINAGO GALLINAGO. 

Habitat. — Northern parts of the Old World. Occasional in Greenland. 
Accidental in the Bermudas. Breeding throughout Northern Europe and 
Siberia. 

Adult. — Very similar to next species, Wilson's Snipe, in general appear- 
ance, but the tail usually consists of fourteen feathers ; top of head, blackish, 
with central and lateral buff lines ; chin and upper part of throat, whitish ; 
neck all round, and upper part of breast, deep buff with dark-brown streaks ; 
back, black varied with rufous and buff, the latter forming lines, and very 
conspicuous ; wings, blackish brown, the coverts and secondaries barred and 
tipped with buff or buffy white ; primaries, brownish black, and edged with 
white at tip, outer web of first pure white for nearly the entire length ; 
rump and upper tail-coverts, rufous barred with black ; tail, central feathers 



46 NOR TH A ME RICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

black, with a rufous bar on apical portion, and tipped with buff; remainder 
rufous barred with black ; axillaries and flanks, white barred with black ; 
rest of under parts, white ; under tail-coverts, reddish buff barred with black ; 
bill, reddish brown at base, dark brown at tip ; legs, pale greenish ; iris, dark 
brown. Length, io inches; wing, 5; bill, 2^ ; tail, 2^3, The sexes are 
alike ; female the larger. 








X 



<:i>,. "•■ *V»V 



10. Wilson's Snipe. 



WILSON'S SNIPE. 

TTIGHLY esteemed as a game bird, the present spe- 
* * cies, known universally as the English Snipe, is 
distributed at different seasons of the year through- 
out the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 
Besides the name given above, it has many local ap- 
pellations, and is called in different sections Jack 
Snipe, Bog and Marsh Snipe, Alewife Bird, Shad 
Bird, Shad Spirit, Gutter Snipe, etc. Though occa- 
sionally nesting in different parts of the Northern 
States, its breeding range is from latitude 42 north 
to well within the Arctic Circle. In its migration 
southwards it penetrates into South America. In Sep- 
tember it arrives in the United States from its sum- 
mer quarters, and is found frequently in great num- 
bers on the marshes, banks of rivers, or borders of 
ponds; in fact, in all suitable localities where its accus- 
tomed food of worms, insects, etc., can be procured. 
On taking wing this bird utters a harsh grating sound 
like scaipe, several times repeated, and frequently for a 
number of yards flies in a zigzag course, very dis- 
couraging to a young sportsman, who generally dis- 
charges his gun at the place the Snipe has just quitted. 
In a few moments this erratic course is changed and 
the flight continued in a direct line. If the day is still 
and warm, this snipe will lie very close, seeming averse 
to rise from the ground, and when compelled to take 
wing only goes a short distance before alighting; but 
if the- weather is boisterous and the sky cloudy, it is 



48 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

often very wild, rising a long way ahead of the sports- 
man, and to a great height in the air, where it is joined 
by its fellows who have been startled from the same 
ground by the loud scaipe, scaipe of the first risen bird, 
and the flight is often continued for a long distance 
until the birds have vanished from sight. It is best to 
hunt them down wind, so that when the bird rises it 
will be against the wind and towards the sportsman, 
who will thus have a cross shot as the snipe endeavors 
to fly by him. It is easily killed, but when wounded 
hides so successfully (its plumage according so well 
with the color of the ground it frequents), that it is al- 
most impossible to find it without the aid of a well- 
trained dog. Sometimes the report of a gun will cause 
numbers to rise from different parts of the marsh, and 
after executing various eccentric movements, often 
high in the air, the birds will pitch headlong with 
great velocity and alight near the spot from which 
they rose. Exhibitions such as this, after the sports- 
man has reached the marsh, do not, as a rule, foretell 
a successful hunt. It shows that the birds are uneasy 
and inclined to be wild, and in all probability after a 
few shots have been made, they will rise in a bunch to 
seek some other feeding place. 

Over the muddy, often treacherous ground it fre- 
quents, the Snipe walks easily and lightly, carrying its 
bill slightly downward, and on reaching a suitable spot 
thrusts it several times in rapid succession up to the 
nostrils into the yielding mire in search of its accus- 
tomed food. Like that of the Woodcock, the tip of the 
bill is very flexible and sensitive, and the hidden worm 
is quickly felt, seized and drawn out. The Snipe is a 
voracious feeder, and one bird will cover quite a large 
extent of ground in a single night in its search for food, 



WILSON'S SXIPE. 49 

leaving as evidence of its diligence great numbers of 
small holes where the soil has been pierced by the busy 
bill. At times in the autumn this bird is found upon 
the uplands, at a distance from its usual marshy locali- 
ties, and in such places it must procure its subsistence 
by searching for worms, etc., like the Woodcock, be- 
neath the dead leaves. It begins to return from its 
southern haunts in February, and by May nearly all 
have passed onwards to their breeding grounds. 
When mated, the two birds perform curious evolu- 
tions upon the wing in the early morning, rising high 
in the air and sailing rapidly around each other, pro- 
ducing a strange rolling sound as they descend with 
great velocity to the ground. A similar maneuver 
called " drumming " is often witnessed, chiefly in the 
autumn when the birds are wild. One will rise to a 
great height and then descend towards the earth with 
the swiftness of an arrow, creating a sound (caused, as is 
generally believed, by the rush of air through the pri- 
maries) which can be heard for a considerable distance. 
This noise startles other birds in the vicinity until the 
air is filled with snipe, " drumming " in all directions, if 
they are numerous in the locality. This action on the 
part of the birds generally foretells a poor day's sport, 
as they will rarely lie at such times, but rise at long dis- 
tances, and if followed soon leave the place. The ar- 
rival and departure of Wilson's Snipe is often very sud- 
den and unexpected, *as it will appear in great numbers 
in a locality one morning, where the previous day not 
a bird was to be seen, and disappear with equal celerity 
on some subsequent night. They travel always at night, 
preferring those usually when the moon is shining. 
Not infrequently this bird will alight on the topmost 
rail of a fence, or stump, or even on the branch of a 



50 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

tree, and it is perhaps more addicted to this habit when 
in the vicinity of its nest. This is merely a depression 
in the grass or bog. The eggs, about four in number, 




TAIL OF WILSON'S SNIPE. 

placed with their small ends downwards, pyriform in 
shape, are grayish olive or olive brown in color, spot- 
ted and blotched with reddish brown, most numerous 
at the larger end. They measure i^ inches in breadth 
by i 1-10. 

GAILINAGO BE IIC ATA. 

Habitat. — Whole of northern and middle America. North to Hudson's 
Bay on the east, and Sitka, Alaska, on the west ; south in winter to north- 
ern South America, and to the West Indies. . Breeding from latitude 42 
northward. 

Adult. — Top of head, black, with median and lateral stripe over each 
eye, huff; neck, buff, with numerous fine black spots or lines ; back, black, 
feathers barred with rufous and margined with pale buff, arranged con- 
spicuously in long lines ; rump and upper tail-coverts, rufous, barred with 
black ; wings, brownish black, feathers barred with rufous and margined 
with white ; primaries, blackish brown, with web of first pure white for 
nearly its entire length, edged with white at tip ; tail, usually of sixteen 



WILSON'S SNIPE. 51 

feathers, all but three outer on either side, black with sub-apical rufous 
bar, and tipped with whitish buff, the three outer pale buff or whitish, with 
narrow black bars ; chin and upper part of throat, buffy white ; lower part 
of throat and breast, buff, spotted with brown or brownish black ; flanks, 
white, barred with black ; abdomen, pure white ; under tail-coverts, buff, 
barred with brownish black ; bill, greenish, yellowish at base of mandible ; 
legs and feet, greenish. Length, io^-ii^ inches; wing, 5-5 >^ ; tail, 
2% ; bill, 2^-3. 



DOWITCHER. 

/^vN the Atlantic seaboard, where it is called in various 
^-^ localities, the Red-breasted Snipe, Dowitch, Gray 
and Brown Snipe, Brown-back, Grayback, Quail Snipe; 
and Robin Snipe in Connecticut, this species is one of 
the most common and well known of the " Bay-birds." 
By the majority of writers it has been confounded with 
the next species, the Long-billed Dowitcher, but from 
which it is specifically distinct, and in the various pub- 
lished biographies of the two birds, the ranges are con- 
siderably mixed. The present species is an inhabitant 
of eastern North America, although undoubtedly exam- 
ples are found at times in different parts of the conti- 
nent, but the two species are essentially the eastern and 
western representatives of the genus, and their migra- 
tions are performed on different lines of travel, the 
present species confining itself mainly to the eastern 
littoral, though it has been witnessed in Illinois when 
migrating through the Mississippi valley, as stated by 
Cooke (U. S. Dep. Agriculture, Bull. 2, 1888, p. 92). 
This is probably its most western migratory limit in 
the Middle States. Messrs. Dall and Bannister state 
that they found this species not common at the mouth 
of the Yukon River, and at Pastolik. It is an ex- 
tremely gentle, sociable bird, goes in small flocks, the 
individuals of which keep closely together and perform 
their various graceful evolutions when on the wing, as if 

moved by one common impulse. 

52 



I 








«*3tt?BSk 




12. Dowitcher. 



DO WIT CHER. 53 

It arrives from the south on its way to the far north- 
ern breeding grounds in April, but does not tarry, and 
returns in August, when it proceeds leisurely, stopping 
at every suitable place, to seek its food and rest from 
the fatigues of the journey. At such times there is no 
need for haste. The duties of incubation and care for 
the young have all been fulfilled, and the little wander- 
ers take life as easily as possible and enjoy it to its 
fullest extent, as they proceed towards the land of the 
magnolia and myrtle, to escape from the harsh, inclem- 
ent season of northern climes. When a flock arrives 
at some sand-bar, muddy flat, or meadow on our 
coast, the individuals composing it, after circling around 
as if selecting the most attractive spot, alight in a body, 
stand motionless for a few moments, and then dis- 
perse over the ground to seek their food, all the time 
keeping up a pleasant low chatting, as though carrying 
on an extended conversation with each other. Should 
any dangerous intruder draw near, they are among the 
last of the birds in the vicinity to take alarm, following 
their peaceful occupations frequently until it is too late 
to escape, and pay as a penalty for their confiding dis- 
position the forfeiture of life. To witness a flock of 
these Snipe come to the decoys is a beautiful sight. 
The gunner, hidden in his blind of grass and reeds, 
with his wooden counterfeits of various species of 
waders strung out before him, notices a dusky mass at 
some distance drawing towards his retreat ; and by the 
manner it moves along, he recognizes that a flock of 
" Dowitchers " is approaching, and commences to whis- 
tle an imitation of their note. The birds soon hear the 
well-known sound, and begin to look for the spot where 
their supposed relatives are feeding. Soon they detect 
the decoys, and in compact mass wheel towards them, 



54 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

in gentle tones replying to the false call. Swinging 
above the wooden images, they hover for a moment 
preparatory to alighting, when the ambushed sports- 
man rises, and by quick discharges from his gun, hurls 
his deadly missiles into their crowded ranks, strewing 
the ground with the dead and wounded. The sur- 
vivors, startled by the reports and the vacancies in their 
ranks, rise and rapidly flee from the dangerous place, 
but have proceeded but a short distance, when again 
their familiar cry is borne to them on the air, and they 
wheel again, and unsuspicious and confiding as ever, 
return once more to meet their supposed friends, and 
once more are received with deadly missiles. It is 
not unfrequently that in this way an entire flock has 
been destroyed, so solicitous seem the unwounded 
birds to remain with their fellows. At times, instead 
of flying over the decoys, they will alight a short dis- 
tance away, and huddled together in a dense, compact 
mass, as though each gained confidence from the close 
proximity of his neighbor, they stand motionless, and 
are mowed down by the remorseless gunner. If, how- 
ever, they should have alighted out of gunshot, in a 
little while they seem to regain their usual confidence, 
and the birds will scatter over the ground, intent only 
upon seeking their food, in the pursuit of which some 
may again approach the decoys, uttering their low, gen- 
tle note as they draw near the fatal ambush. 

Dowitchers associate on most friendly terms with 
other species of waders, such as Yellow-legs, Willets, 
and the various kinds of Sandpipers. Their flight is 
rapid and is often greatly protracted. When the birds 
are traveling at a high elevation, either for the purpose 
of seeking new feeding grounds or distant localities, 
they are difficult to decoy, and pay but slight attention 



DO WITCH ER. 55 

to the imitation of their cry, be it whistled ever so 
accurately. The Red-breasted Snipe breeds in the far 
North, and its eggs have been taken near Fort Ander- 
son, in the Arctic regions. The nest, placed on the 
marshy shores of lakes, in a depression in the moss, 
was lined with a few leaves and grasses. The number 
of eggs was four, of a drab or fawn color, with shadings 
of rufous or olivaceous, covered with chocolate or 
sepia markings, most numerous at the larger end, and 
measure i}i to i^ by i i-io to i 1-5 inches. As may 
be supposed from its partly web-foot, this species 
swims fairly well when necessary, keeping time to the 
stroke of its legs by a backward and forward move- 
ment of the head and neck, and when wounded is very 
skillful in hiding in the grass. 

In the British Islands straggling individuals of this 
species have been taken at various times, and it has also 
been killed in France, near Havre, and in Picardy. 



MACRORHAMPHUS GRISEUS. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America to the Arctic regions ; casually in 
Alaska (Nushagat River). In winter south to the West Indies and South 
America. Occasionally in Bermuda. Straggler to the Old World. Breed- 
ing in Arctic regions from eastern seaboard to Rocky Mountains. 

Adult in Summer. — Head and upper parts, mixed with buff, rufous, and 
white ; lower part of back, white ; rump and upper tail-coverts, white, barred 
with black ; wing-coverts, grayish brown, margined with white ; secondaries, 
black, barred with rufous ; primaries, brownish black ; shaft of first primary, 
white ; throat, front and sides of neck, breast, and upper edge of flanks, cin- 
namon, spotted with dark brown, barred with same on flanks ; abdomen, 
white, tinged with buff; under tail-coverts, whitish buff, barred with blackish 
brown; tail, white, barred with black, the central pair sometimes tinged 
with buff; bill, blackish brown ; legs and feet, greenish brown. Length, 
10-12^ inches; wing, 5^; oilmen, 2*^ ; tarsus, i^; middle toe, I inch. 

Adult in Winter. — General plumage, ash gray, mixed with white on 



56 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

breast and flanks ; stripe over eye, lower part of back, abdomen, and belly, 
white ; wing-coverts, margined with white ; wings, darker than rest of plum- 
age, but without any buff or cinnamon markings ; tail and its coverts, as in 
summer, but without any buff tinges. 



r 




bo 

a 

o 



LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. 

THE Long-billed Dowitcher, also called Long-billed 
* Snipe, Western Red-breasted Snipe, Greater Long- 
beak, Greater Grayback, Western Dowitcher, Red-bel- 
lied Snipe, and Jack Snipe at Los Angeles, and White- 
tail Dowitcher on Long Island, is, as its various names 
imply, a somewhat larger bird than its relative, the 
Dowitcher of the Atlantic Coast, and with a longer 
bill. It has been usually considered by authors as a 
variety of, or identical with, its ally, and all the records 
of Macrorhamphus from the Mississippi Valley to the 
Pacific can with tolerable certainty be ascribed to 
this species. It has been found common at the mouth 
of the Yukon by Dall, but although rare in the breed- 
ing season, was observed in large flocks in August at 
Cape Smythe, Alaska, by Murdoch. On the Ameri- 
can coast of Behring Sea it is very common; is also 
found on Kotzebuc Sound, and even farther north, 
and breeds throughout this range. Its appearance on 
the Atlantic Coast is at very irregular intervals, and 
although quite a considerable number of specimens 
have been obtained at various times, it may be regarded 
as an accidental straggler, individuals having probably 
joined a flock of the eastern Dowitchers and accom- 
panied its members along the Atlantic Coast, instead of 
proceeding, as usual, to the westward. Nelson, who had 
opportunities of observing this species in the breeding 
season, on the shore of Norton Sound and the banks of 

57 



58 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

the Yukon, in Alaska, says it arrives at its summer 
home from the ioth to the 15 th of May, when the 
snow disappears. At the end of the month they are 
numerous, and the most conspicuous frequenters of the 
marshes. Their method of love-making is very ener- 
getic. Two or three males give chase to one female 
and pursue her over the marshes, twisting and turning 
in their flight with wonderful dexterity and swiftness. 
Occasionally a male checks his flight and utters a shrill 
ptet ti wdet; w^e too wfa too; then on again at full speed. 
When mated, or but one male is paying his court, the 
two rise in the air for a short distance, and hovering for 
a few moments, the male utters an energetic and fre- 
quently a musical song, something like p/et-peet; pester- 
wte-too; wte-too; twice repeated. The nest is merely 
a depression in the moss, without any lining, and the 
eggs are usually four in number, with the ground 
color, greenish olive, light gray, or clay color, covered 
with large umber-brown spots, most numerous at the 
larger end. 

The young are full grown and on the wing by the 
last of July, and by the first of September the full 
winter dress has been assumed, and they frequent 
muddy flats and shores of tidal creeks, as is their cus- 
tom when performing their migrations. They are as 
unsuspicious and gentle as their relatives, and have the 
same reluctance to leave their wounded companions 
who have fallen at the discharge of the gun, and may 
be shot at frequently before the survivors compel them- 
selves to leave the dangerous neighborhood. On the 
Pacific Coast of the United States, south of British 
Columbia, it is found in the autumn very abundant 
about the lagoons and banks of rivers, feeding in water 
that their legs would just permit them to wade in, and 



L ONG-BILLED DOW I TCHER. 59 

probe the bottom with their long bills. Specimens 
have been obtained of this species in Cuba. 

MA CRORHA MPHUS SCOL OP A CE US. 

Habitat. — Mississippi Valley and western North America, from Alaska 
to Mexico. Accidental on the Atlantic Coast and in Cuba. Breeding on 
both coasts of Behring Sea and in Alaska. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head and back of neck, cinnamon, streaked 
with black ; buffy- white line from bill to above the eye ; loral space cov- 
ered by a broad dark-brown bar ; back and wings, black, feathers margined 
with reddish and white ; coverts, dark brown, margined with white ; prima- 
ries, blackish brown, shaft of first one white ; lower back, pine white ; rump 
and upper tail-coverts, white, barred with black ; throat, pale buff; front and 
sides of neck, cinnamon, spotted with brown ; entire under parts, uniform 
cinnamon, palest at vent ; edge of flanks and under tail-coverts, barred with 
black ; central tail-feathers, black, barred with white and pale buff, re- 
mainder blackish brown, barred with white; bill, longer than that of 
M. griseus, and together with legs and feet, is blackish green. Length, 
io^ inches; wing, 6 ; culmen, 2^f ; tarsus, lji ; middle toe, \%. 

Adult in Winter. — Head, back, and wings, dark gray, mixed with dark 
brown, and margined with whitish brown on wing-coverts ; lower back, 
rump, tail-coverts, and tail, as in summer, but without any buff; stripe from 
base of culmen extending over and behind the eye, abdomen, and vent, pure 
white ; throat, white, faintly streaked with dusky ; neck in front and sides, 
together with the breast, brownish gray ; flanks and under tail-coverts, pure 
white, barred with black. 



STILT SANDPIPER. 

CORMERLY considered as among the rarest of our 
A waders, the Stilt Sandpiper is still one of the little- 
known members of the family, and is generally met 
with singly or in small parties of five or six individuals. 
It associates with the little Yellow-legs and the Dow- 
itchers, and although very gentle, is rather more wary 
than either of those species. I have met with it on the 
Jersey coast, near Barnegat, at various times, mostly 
singly, or in small parties of three or four, but once in 
May a flock of two or three dozen came to my decoys. 
They flew with rather open ranks, and on alighting, the 
individuals kept a slight distance apart. After remain- 
ing motionless for a few moments, as is the custom of 
most waders, they began to seek their food, inserting 
the bills into the muddy soil. The legs appeared curi- 
ously long for the size of the bird, but they walked 
gracefully and with some dignity. They uttered occa- 
sionally a tweet-like note. After watching them for a 
short time I fired, when the survivors rose and made a 
rapid circuit of the flat, and again approached the de- 
coys, hovering slightly over them and more bunched 
together, when I killed several ; the rest immediately 
started off and were soon out of sight. It was the only 
occasion that I saw so many together. It is stated that 
this bird, called on Long Island the Long-legged 
Sandpiper, will wade in water nearly covering the tar- 
sus, and with the bill immersed almost to the base, 
sv:eep it from side to side, seeking for food somewhat 




14- Stilt Sandpiper. 



STILT SANDPIPER. 61 

like the Avocet. I have never seen them do this, the 
method of feeding of those I have watched being that 
already described, and although there were numerous 
small ponds scattered about, they did not go near them, 
but kept upon the muddy flat from which the tide had 
but lately receded. Seebohm (" Charadriidae, " p. 401) 
says that this species breeds in the Arctic regions of 
America, from the Rocky Mountains to Baffin's Bay, but 
gives no authorities for the statement. McFarlane 
found it breeding at Rendezvous Lake, and it was tol- 
erably abundant at Franklin Bay. He also obtained 
the eggs, which are now in the Smithsonian Institution. 
They are light grayish white, marked with dark brown, 
most numerous at the larger end, andmeasure 1. 47-1. 50 
inches in length by 1 inch in breadth. The nest was 
merely a depression in the ground lined with leaves 
and grasses. I have not seen any record of its nest 
having been discovered in the western part of the 
Arctic regions. 



MICR OP A LA MA HIM A N TOP US. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America, from the Arctic regions to the Ber- 
mudas, West Indies, Central America, Brazil, and Peru in winter. Not 
found on the Pacific Coast of the United States. Breeds from the Rocky 
Mountains to Baffin's Bay. — Seebohm. 

Adult in Summer. — Front and top of head, black, streaked with buffy 
white and edged all around with rufous ; line from bill to eye and ear- 
coverts, rufous ; neck, white, tinged with buff and streaked with dusky ; 
back, black, feathers edged with buff or white ; wing-coverts, brownish 
gray ; primaries, brown, darkest on the outer web, shaft of first one all white, 
of the remainder white for the terminal third ; rump, dark gray ; upper tail- 
coverts, white, barred with blackish ; middle tail-feathers, pale gray ; re- 
mainder, central portions white, margined with pale brown ; throat, whitish, 
streaked with dusky ; rest of under parts, dull white, slightly tinged in 
places with buff, and barred with dark brown ; bill, black ; legs and feet, 



62 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

greenish. Length, 7^-9^ inches; wing, 5-5^; culmen, l}4-l% ; 
tarsus, l %-!}(; middle toe, ^, and claw, 1 inch. 

Adult in Winter. — Top of head, back, and sides of neck, loral streak 
and auriculars, gray; back, ash gray; wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail, 
as in summer ; superciliary stripe and under parts, white, streaked with 
gray on neck, breast, and lower tail-coverts. 

Young. — Top of head, brownish, streaked with buff; hind-neck, ash 
gray; back and scapulars, black, feathers margined with white, except 
those of the mantle, which are bordered with reddish ; wing-coverts, mar- 
gined with pale buff; upper tail-coverts, nearly pure white ; lores, brown ; 
throat and sides of head, white, faintly streaked with dusky ; breast, gray- 
ish white, streaked with buff and dusky ; rest of lower parts, pure white. 



THE KNOT. 

LARGEST of all the Sandpipers, the Knot is found 
-* throughout the world, going in winter from its 
far northern breeding place to New Zealand, Africa, 
and Brazil. In the United States it is known by 
many names besides the one at the head of this article, 
a few of which are : Red Sandpiper, Ash-colored Sand- 
piper, Freckled and Grisled Sandpiper, Gray Back, 
May Bird, Robin Snipe, White Robin Snipe, White- 
bellied Snipe, Silver-back, Red-breast Plover, Buff- 
breast Blue Plover, Beach Robin, Robin-breast, and 
Horse-foot Snipe. In the spring, on its way north, and 
again in the autumn, the Robin Snipe visits the Atlan- 
tic Coast of America in great numbers, associating in 
flocks and remaining only a comparatively brief period 
in any one locality. On the seashore it follows the 
movements of the waves upon the beach, exhibiting 
great quickness in eluding the incoming surf, and also 
in following the retiring waters, rapidly picking up the 
aquatic insects and small bivalves left upon the sand. 
Although apparently wholly intent upon securing its 
food, it nevertheless keeps one eye upon the sea, and 
avoids with remarkable agility the tumbling surf that 
suddenly rises and breaks in front of it. The flight is 
performed with firmnes and speed, the birds indulging 
at times in many evolutions over both sea and land, 
executing these with much swiftness and remarkable 
unanimity. It also frequents the salt marshes and the 
many ponds and pools common to such tracts, and feeds 



64 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

on the minute shellfish found in the shallow water. At 
times it is very gentle and easily decoyed, approaching 
its wooden counterfeits without hesitation and paying 
with its life such misplaced confidence. At other times, 
more especially, perhaps, in autumn, during its migra- 
tion southwards, it is more wary, and frequently declines 
to pay any attention to the sportsman's lures. It walks 
easily and runs with swiftness, and often probes the 
wet sand and muddy flats in search of its especial food. 
At Point Barrow, Alaska, it was rather rare, but 
Murdoch was of the opinion it bred there, as a female 
was killed with full-sized eggs in her ovaries; but he 
never found the nest. Captain Fielding observed this 
species in considerable numbers in Grinnell Land, and 
soon after its arrival in June the courtship commenced. 
He saw two males chase a female. At this time they 
soar, like the common Snipe, and when descending, beat 
their wings rapidly behind the back, producing a whir- 
ring noise. At the mouth of the Yukon, Dall found it 
rare, and he obtained a young bird at St. Michael's. It 
appears to be more numerous about Hudson's Bay and 
on Melville Peninsula. Its food consists of small mol- 
lusks, worms, crustaceans, aquatic insects, and larvae. 
The eggs of this species have for a long time been one 
of the greatest desiderata to oologists. Parry found it 
breeding on the North Georgian Islands, and Richard- 
son says Captain Lyons found its nest and eggs on Mel- 
ville Peninsula, and the same writer states that the 
Knot breeds on Hudson's Bay down to the fifty-fifth 
parallel, but no specimen of the egg was in any collec- 
tion until Lieutenant Greely brought one to Washing- 
ton, obtained in the vicinity of Fort Conger, latitude 
8i° 44/ N. It measured 1.10 by 1 inch, and as de- 
scribed by Merriam was ' ' light pea green in color, 



THE KNOT. 65 

closely spotted with brown in small specks about the 
size of a pin's head." The bird was also captured at 
the same time. Captain Lyons states that the comple- 
ment of eggs is four, and that the nest was only a tuft 
of withered grass, on which the eggs were deposited, 
the bird not taking the trouble to make any regular nest. 
Some believe that when the breeding plumage has 
been once assumed it is never changed, and cite as 
proof the appearance in autumn of individuals with the 
red breast, and also imagine that it takes three or four 
years before the full dress is completed. I have seen 
more individuals which I consider fully adult, in the 
gray plumage, than I have in the breeding dress, and 
regard the evidence obtainable is against the view of 
an unchangeable dress. 

TRINGA CANUTUS. 

Habiat. — Cosmopolitan. Throughout the seacoasts generally of both 
hemispheres, but not found on the Pacific Coast of America south of the 
Alaskan Peninsula. Abundant on the Atlantic Coast, rare in the Missis- 
sippi Valley. In winter to the West Indies, Trinidad, and Brazil. Breeding 
in Arctic regions. 

Adult in Summer. — Head and upper parts, pale gray, variegated with 
black and reddish ; rump and upper tail-coverts, white, barred with black ; 
superciliary stripe, throat, fore-neck, breast, and sides of abdomen, light 
cinnamon ; middle of abdomen, pure white ; under tail-coverts and flanks, 
white, barred or spotted with black ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, io 
inches; wing, 6%; tail, 2^; bill, \}i; tarsus, \%. 

Adult in Winter. — Top of head and nape, dark brown, streaked with 
white ; back and scapulars, ashy gray, with a subterminal bar to the feath- 
ers, and white tips ; wings, rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, as in summer ; 
under parts, white ; sides of face, neck, and breast, spotted and barred with 
ashy gray. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. 

''THE Purple Sandpiper, called also, in Maine, " Winter 
* Snipe," is a boreal species breeding in the far North 
and only coming in winter to the Great Lakes and Mid- 
dle States of the Atlantic seaboard. It is not found on 
the shores of the Pacific. On Long Island it is not com- 
mon, but abundant in various parts of the New Eng- 
land coast. It breeds on the Faroe Islands, Iceland, 
Greenland, and, according to Richardson, on Melville 
Peninsula and the shores of Hudson's Bay. In Europe 
it straggles south to Gibraltar, and in a single instance 
one is known to have gone as far as South Africa. It 
prefers a bold coast, and seeks its food amid the spray 
of the waves as they dash over the shelving rocks. 
Sure-footed, it clings easily to the slippery surface, and 
appears to delight in the angry waters and the commo- 
tion they cause around it. It is very gentle, allowing a 
near approach as it busies itself along the shore, merely 
running ahead for a short distance if the observer comes 
too close. It is said to be an excellent swimmer and 
will even alight on the water, but this I have never 
seen it do. At high tide it remains quietly on the 
rocks, pluming itself or resting, but becomes active 
when the water begins to recede. Occasionally it fre- 
quents marshy flats, in company with other waders, 
and subsists upon the minute organism peculiar to such 
localities. Its food consists of insects, mollusks, and 
small crustaceans, and the seeds of different plants 
common to the coast. Its flight is performed by rapid 




'& 



^b^ 
^^r" 



^ 



v 



1 6. Purple Sandpiper. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. 67 

beats, with the wings curved downwards, and is not 
continued for any very great distance when near or on 
their feeding grounds. The breeding season begins in 
May, and the nest is placed on some rising ground in 
but a slight depression lined with dried moss or grass, 
and the eggs, usually four in number, are pale brown- 
ish buff, mottled and blotched with reddish or blackish 
brown, with underlying marks of violet gray or brown- 
ish gray, most numerous at the larger end. They 
measure about iy& inches in length by i inch in breadth. 
The female employs all the usual artifices to lure an 
observer away from its nest or helpless young, feigning 
lameness, inability to fly, etc., tumbling over with 
almost every movement, and apparently has no thought 
for her own danger if mayhap she can secure the safety 
of her treasures. But one brood is raised in a season, 
and both birds appear to perform the duties of incuba- 
tion. The note is loud and shrill, and the species has 
the habit of running along the shore with both wings ele- 
vated over the back. In summer it goes to the extreme 
North, as far as it is possible to procure any subsistence 
amid the ice and snow of those bleak and cheerless 
regions. In the interior of the United States the Purple 
Sandpiper visits the Great Lakes, is not uncommon on 
the shores of Lake Michigan, and has been noted as 
occurring in Missouri. 

TRINGA MART TIM A. 

Habitat. — Northern portions of Old and New Worlds ; most common in 
the northeastern part of North America, and southward in winter in the Mis- 
sissippi Valley, and along the Atlantic Coast to Middle States. Casual 
in Florida. Replaced in the Alaskan Peninsula by an allied form. Breeds 
across Arctic America. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head, neck, back, and scapulars, blackish 



68 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

brown, feathers margined with chestnut, pale buff, or white ; wings, grayish 
brown, coverts margined with white, forming a bar across the wing; 
some of the inner secondaries are mostly white ; rump, upper tail-coverts, 
and central tail-feathers are brownish black, lateral tail-feathers light or 
grayish brown ; obscure white streak from bill to above the eye ; throat 
and fore-neck, white, streaked with brown ; breast, grayish brown, tinged 
with rufous, the feathers tipped with white; rest of under parts, white, 
streaked on flanks and under tail-coverts with pale brown ; bill, dark brown, 
paler at base ; legs and feet, dull yellow ; iris hazel. Length, 8 inches ; 
wing, 4^ ; tail, 2^ ; tarsus, ^ ; culmen, \y{. 

Adult in Winter. — Upper parts, black, glossed with purple, the feathers 
margined with gray ; head, plumbeous ; wings, as in summer, except they 
are somewhat darker and there is no chestnut on scapulars ; throat, white ; 
breast, lead color, tinged with purple; under parts, white, streaked on 
flanks and under tail-coverts with dusky brown. 

Downy Young. — " Above, hair brown, lighter and more grayish on the 
nape, the brown irregularly marbled with black ; the wings, back, and rump, 
thickly bespangled with whitish downy flecks on the tips of the down-tufts ; 
head, pale rufous, variously marked with black ; the crown, deep hair brown, 
variegated with black; beneath, entirely grayish white." — Baird, B., and R. 



'.®i8h\ 



^ 




^l.~, -Ti -y ■> 



-WvX 



17. Coues' Aleutian Sandpiper. 



COUES ALEUTIAN SANDPIPER. 

A WESTERN representative of the Purple Sand- 
piper, this bird bears so close a resemblance to 
its eastern ally, that it offers really no recognizable 
characters to definitely separate it. But not having at 
my command a sufficient series to enable me to reach 
an absolute decision, I have left this form, together 
with the Prybiloff Sandpiper, under a separate designa- 
tion instead of reducing them both to synonyms of the 
Purple Sandpiper. I am under a strong impression, 
however, that all three represent but a single species. 
We learn from those who have met with this bird in its 
native haunts, that it is a common resident along the 
entire Aleutian chain of islands, and strays northward 
in the autumn, throughout the coast of Behring Sea. 
Dall found it at Nulato and Pastolik, and it is not un- 
common at Sitka. It is also found on Kurile Island and 
the Siberian coast. It appears to breed from the most 
western of the Aleutian Islands to the Shumagin group 
south of Alaska. Nelson found it on Sanak Island of the 
Aleutian chain, where a pair were feeding on the rocks, 
uttering a note something like clu-clu-clu, and when on 
the wing it had a low clear, rather musical cry, like 
tweo-tweo-tweo. In August it was abundant at St. Mich- 
ael's, in Norton Sound, going in flocks of from five to 
forty individuals, and frequenting rocky islets and rug- 
ged portions of the shore. When the snow began to fall 
in October, they retired to the inner bays and beaches, 
and were very tame, and permitted a near approach even 

69 



70 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

after having been fired at. It is called by the natives 
" Beach Snipe " or "Shore Bird." In the Commander 
Islands it is found during both summer and winter, and 
in the latter part of March flocks of several hundred in- 
dividuals are found upon the shore. Later these swarm 
over the island and settle in pairs, and commence the 
season of love-making, expressing their ardent feel- 
ings with a song. This is uttered on the wing, and is 
described as a loud, agreeable, and melodious twitter, 
the performer remaining suspended in the air mean- 
while on quivering wings, and on its conclusion de- 
scending obliquely to the ground, where, perched upon 
some tussock, and apparently in a high state of excite- 
ment, it produces a " bleating" sound like that of the 
European Snipe. The eggs are laid about the middle 
of May, and are pale olive buff or brownish buff, spotted 
and blotched with umber brown. How far south on 
our west coast this bird goes in winter is not known. 

TRINGA MA RI TIM A CO <U ESI. 

Habitat. — Aleutian Islands, coast of Alaska, north to the Kowak River ; 
west to Commander Islands, Kamtschatka. 

Adult in Summer. — Head, neck, back, scapulars, and interscapulars, 
sooty black, streaked with reddish on the first two, and the feathers mar- 
gined with reddish, buff, or white on the remainder ; wings, dark grayish 
brown, lesser coverts margined with gray, greater coverts with white, 
forming a bar across the wing ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and central tail- 
feathers, brownish black, rest of tail-feathers pale brown ; white stripe over 
the eye, going to the nape ; throat, neck, and under parts, white, streaked 
and clouded with brownish black, or sooty, sometimes mottled with buff on 
lower part of fore-neck and sides of breast, which latter is frequently all 
bluish gray, sometimes blotched and streaked with blackish on a white 
ground ; flanks and under tail- coverts centrally streaked or terminally 
spotted with black ; bill, blackish gray, yellowish at base ; feet and legs, 
olive yellow. Length, 7^-9 inches; wing, 4^-5 ; culmen 1— i^T ; tar-, 
sus, f$-i inch, 






COUES ALEUTIAN SANDPIPER. 71 

Adult i?i Winter. — In this plumage Coues Aleutian Sandpiper resembles 
the Purple so closely that it is almost impossible to give recognizable char- 
acters to distinguish them apart. With specimens of both before me, be- 
side a slightly shorter and more slender bill, a most unreliable character in 
waders, the present form is of a more grayish hue upon the back, with 
much less of the purple luster seen in examples of the Purple Sandpiper, 
and the feathers have rather lighter margins. In other respects there is 
little or no difference, and in a large series these variations would probably 
be of no value. 

Downy Young. — " Above, bright rusty fulvous, irregularly mottled with 
black, the back, wings, and rump ornamented by yellowish white downy 
flecks or papillae; head above, deep fulvous brown, with a longitudinal 
stripe of velvety black from the forehead to the occiput, where it is conflu- 
ent with a cross band of the same ; the lores with two nearly parallel 
longitudinal streaks of black ; there are also other rather indefinite black 
markings, chiefly on the superciliary and occipital regions ; lower parts, 
white, becoming distinctly fulvous laterally." — Baird, P., and Rid g. 



PRYBILOFF SANDPIPER. 

A T first sight this Sandpiper seems very distinct from 
**• the two preceding forms, but on an examination 
of specimens the differences do not appear to be of any 
material consequence. It is somewhat lighter in color, 
and that statement comprises about all it can claim to 
a distinct specific, or even subspecific, rank. It is not 
even an island form, as was originally supposed, but 
goes in winter to the mainland of Alaska, having been 
taken in December or January at Portage Bay, on the 
Chilcat Peninsula, where it stays all winter in small 
numbers, appearing in flocks in spring, and it probably 
is distributed along the coast southward during the in- 
clement season. It has been found on the Fur Seal 
Islands, and on St. Matthew's and St. Lawrence 
Islands. It reaches the Seal Islands in May, and breeds 
on the uplands and mossy hummocks. The nest is 
merely a depression in the moss, and the eggs, usually 
four in number, are olive yellow, with large and numer- 
ous markings of dark umber brown scattered over the 
surface, nearly confluent at the larger end, with under- 
lying purplish-gray markings. The young are able to 
fly during the first week in August, and both old and 
young gather together in flocks and remain about the 
shores until September, when they all depart to their 
winter home. Like its relative, during the breeding 
season it utters a rather musical song composed of 
liquid notes, while suspending itself with rapidly beat- 
ing tremulous wings a short distance above the ground. 

72 



r; 




jEtVwi^ Sftry>^tct »A 



1 8. Prybiloff Sandpiper. 



PRYBILOFF SANDPIPER. 73 

The song finished, it descends and takes up its position 
on some projecting rock. In its flight and general 
habits, it does not seem to differ in any way from its 
relatives. 

TRINGA MAPI TIM A PTILOCNEMIS. 

Habitat. — Breeding in the Prybiloff Islands, Alaska, Portage Bay, Chilcat 
Peninsula, and migrating to coast of adjacent mainland south of Norton 
Sound. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head, brownish black, streaked with buff; 
nape, pale fulvous, narrowly streaked with dark brown ; loral stripe and 
ear-coverts, grayish fulvous, streaked with brown ; rest of head and stripe 
over the eye, white ; back and scapulars, black, the feathers margined with 
fulvous, reddish, or white ; wings, grayish brown, feathers margined with 
white, forming a white bar below the greater coverts ; some of the inner 
secondaries, pure white ; primaries, pale brown, darkest on outer web ; 
shafts, white ; lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts, black, with a purplish 
shade on the coverts; middle tail-feathers, pale brown, the lateral ones 
graduating from a pale brown to grayish white as the outermost is reached, 
margined with a purer white ; throat and sides of neck, white, indistinctly 
streaked with buff on the latter ; rest of under parts, white, mottled and 
blotched with black on the breast, the blotches sometimes coalescing and 
covering all the breast ; in some specimens there are indistinct central 
brown shafts on the flanks; bill (skin), brownish black; feet and tarsi, 
black. Length, 9^-10 inches ; wing, 5^; culmen, 1% \ tarsus, I inch. 

Adult in Winter. — " Wings, rump, tail-coverts, tail, and posterior lower 
parts, as in the summer plumage ; remaining upper parts, continuous light 
ashy plumbeous ; the feathers of the back and the scapulars, darker cen- 
trally, and with a very faint purplish gloss in certain lights ; head, light 
grayish, darker and almost unbroken on the pileum, lighter and streaked 
with white elsewhere ; the throat, white, and but sparsely streaked ; jugu- 
lurn and breast, white, irregularly marked with pale ash gray." — Baird, P., 
and Ridg. 

Downy Young. — Paler than those of T. M. Couesi, but otherwise very 
similar ; black loral streak not reaching the eye. 



SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER. 

IVTELSON appears to have been the first to introduce 
*■ ^ this species to the North American fauna, having 
obtained a female at St. Michael's in September, 1877. 
Later, others were seen, and in succeeding autumns it 
was one of the most common species, frequenting pools 
and tidal creeks, generally associated with the Pectoral 
Sandpiper, and combining together in flocks of from 
ten to fifty. They had a twisting flight, and pursued 
an erratic circuitous course, usually settling near the 
spot from which they started. On the Siberian coast, 
near North Cape, this species was very common, and 
resorted to the damp grassy flats near the shore, and 
sought its food in the tracks, made by the rein- 
deer, which intersected the ground. It was here very 
tame and allowed one to approach closely. On Beh- 
ring Island Stejneger obtained young specimens as 
they were migrating in autumn, but it does not ap- 
pear to travel southward along our coasts. They 
were very shy, mostly single, no large flocks having 
been seen. In appearance this species resembles the 
Pectoral Sandpiper, but has never the streaked breast 
so conspicuous on the latter, and the top of the head is 
more reddish. 

TRINGA ACUMINATA. 

Habitat. — Alaskan coast and Eastern Asia, islands of the Pacific and 
Behring Sea, southward to Australia. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head, ear-coverts, and nape, streaked with 
black and rust red ; white stripe from bill over the eye ; back, scapulars, 

74 




19- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper. 



SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER. 75 

and interscapulars, black, feathers margined rather broadly with reddish 
buff or rusty, grayish brown or white, back lighter than scapulars ; lesser 
wing-coverts, black, margined with dark buff; greater coverts, dark brown, 
margined with white, forming a bar across the wing ; primaries, dark brown, 
with white shafts ; lower back and upper tail-coverts, brownish black, 
margined with chestnut ; central tail-feathers, dark brown, margined with 
chestnut ; lateral feathers, pale brown, margined with white, all the tail- 
feathers lengthened and sharply pointed ; sides of face and throat, white, 
the former spotted with brown ; breast, dark buff; rest of under parts, 
white, with central brown streak on under tail-coverts ; bill, black at tip, 
greenish yellow at base of mandible ; feet and tarsi, greenish yellow. 
Length, 7^-9 inches; wing, 5-5^; culmen, I; tarsus, iy%-l%. 

Adult in Winter. — " Above, grayish brown (more rusty on top of head), 
streaked and striped with dusky ; superciliary stripe and lower parts, dull 
white ; chest and sides of breast, pale grayish buff, the former indistinctly 
streaked with dusky; lower tail-coverts, with dusky shaft streaks." — Ridg- 
way. 



PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 

T^HIS species visits the United States during its mi- 
* grations, appearing in April on its way northward, 
and again in August on its southern passage. It is 
met with all along the Atlantic Coast in small parties, 
and also in the interior. On the Pacific it is found in 
Alaska and in Puget Sound, but it does not seem to go 
southward by the way of the coast line of California, 
probably migrating inland to Central America, and so 
onward as far as Chili, by way of the shore. It is 
known by many names in the various parts of our 
country, some of which are: Krieker, Jack, Grass, and 
Meadow Snipe, Brown Bird, Short Neck, Hay Bird, 
Cow Snipe, etc. It has some game qualities, and will 
frequently lie to the dog, flushing like the true Snipe, 
and often fly off in a zigzag course, uttering loud, sharp 
cries, but it will not come to decoys. They frequent 
the salt meadows and muddy flats along the shores, 
also tidal creeks, and when feeding, if a number are 
present, they scatter all over the ground, busily search- 
ing for marine insects and small mollusks, occasionally 
thrusting the bill into the soil. At such times the birds 
are generally silent and not easily disturbed. 

They run and walk with considerable swiftness, 
usually carrying the bill pointed slightly downward, 
and in search of food often wade into the shallow 
ponds, and if on the beach, follow the outgoing waves 
to pick up any insect or crustacean left by the waters. 
The Pectoral Sandpiper breeds in the far North, 

76 






te5fekM»«. 




IAnvOu ,^K e ?P aYC V 



20. Pectoral Sandpiper. 



PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 77 

abundantly at Point Barrow, Alaska, according to 
Murdoch, in June and July, moving southward in 
September. Nelson, who has had most favorble oppor- 
tunities for observing it during the love season, says it 
arrives near St. Michael's, on the shores of Behring 
Sea, about the middle of May, when the birds pair and 
build their nests. At this time they have a habit unique 
among waders, but often observed in members of the 
Grouse family, of inflating the throat until it becomes 
as large as the body, and uttering a note that is ' ' hollow 
and resonant, but at the same time liquid and musical, 
and may be represented by a repetition of the syllables 
tod-ii, too-ii, too-u." Nelson farther states that "the 
skin of the throat and breast becomes very flabby and 
loose at this season, and its inner surface is covered 
with small globular masses of fat." When not inflated 
it hangs down in a " pendulous flap or fold, exactly like 
a dewlap, about an inch and a half wide." " The bird 
may frequently be seen running along the ground close 
to the female, its enormous sac inflated and its head 
drawn back, and the bill pointing directly forward, or 
filled with springtime vigor, the bird flits with slow 
but energetic wing-strokes close to the ground, its head 
raised high over the shoulders and the tail hanging 
almost directly down. As it thus flies it utters a succes- 
sion of the hollow booming notes, which have a strange 
ventriloquial quality. At times the male rises twenty or 
thirty yards in the air, and inflating its throat, glides 
down to the ground with its sac hanging below. Again 
he crosses back and forth in front of the female, puffing 
his breast out and bowing from side to side, running 
here and there as if intoxicated with passion. When- 
ever he pursues his love-making, his rather low but 
pervading note swells and dies in musical cadences, 



78 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

which form a striking part of the great bird chorus 
heard at this season in the North." The Pectoral Sand- 
piper is common in the delta of the Yukon, and the 
nest, usually placed in a tuft of grass, contains four 
eggs of a greenish drab color, spotted and blotched 
with umber brown, the average size being i^ by 1.02 
inches. In the autumn its habits in the North do not 
differ from those observed in its migration in southern 
climes. 

TRINGA MACULA T A. 

Habitat. — North America generally, south to Bermuda, West Indies, 
Brazil, and Chili in winter. Occurs frequently in Europe. Breeds in 
Arctic regions from Greenland to Alaska. 

Adult in Summer. — Feathers of head and upper parts, together with 
scapulars and tertials, have brownish black centers, margined with pale 
buff, rufous, or white, giving a general pale appearance to the upper parts ; 
wing-coverts, grayish brown with buffy- white margins; primaries, dark 
brown, shaft of first white ; rump and upper tail-coverts, brownish black, 
margined narrowly with reddish buff; central tail-feathers, like upper cov- 
erts, lateral ones pale brown, margined with white ; superciliary stripe, white, 
loral one dark brown ; sides of head and throat, white, former with narrow 
brown streaks; breast and sides, pale buff, streaked with dark brown; rest 
of under parts, pure white ; bill, apical half brownish black, basal half 
dull greenish yellow ; legs and feet, buff. Length, 8^-9 inches ; wing, 
5~5f ; culmen, 1-1% '■> tarsus, i-ii. 

Adult in Winter. — Is without the rusty tints on the upper parts, and the 
black markings less sharply defined. The breast is also grayer. 



COOPER'S SANDPIPER. 

/V/f ANY years ago this hypothetical species was de- 
* " *■ scribed by Professor Baird from a single specimen 
shot at Raynor South, Long Island, by Mr. William 
Cooper. No second specimen has ever been obtained, 
and it is very doubtful if the type represents anything 
more than an unusually large White-rumped Sandpiper, 
or possibly a hybrid between that species and the Pec- 
toral Sandpiper. The following description will assist 
any one to identify this bird should a specimen be ob- 
tained : 

TRINGA COO PERL 

Habitat. — One specimen taken at Raynor South, Long Island, nearly as 
large as the Knot, and almost exactly like the Pectoral Sandpiper. " Bill, 
straight, rather broad and a little widened at the tip, a little longer than 
the tarsus ; tarsus, a little longer than the middle toe ; hind toe and claw 
well developed ; bare part of tibia a little more than half the tarsus, just 
half the bill ; tail, doubly emarginate, but the central feathers projecting but 
slightly ; upper parts, ashy gray, this being the color of the borders ; the 
basal and central portion, however, is blackish, showing occasionally as a 
large spot. There are several scapular feathers which appear to be as- 
suming a more perfect dress, and which are black, abruptly edged laterally 
with pale rusty, passing towards the tip into ashy. There is no rusty, how- 
ever, on any other feathers. The head and neck are grayish, streaked with 
brown; the chin, whitish. The upper tail-coverts are white, each one 
with a V-shaped mark of brown ; the rump feathers are brown, edged with 
whitish. The under parts are quite pure white, with a trace of reddish on 
the lower neck, but no indication of an ashy jugulum. The lower part of 
the neck, the jugulum, and the sides of the body show elongated oval spots 
of brown, not much crowded, but very well defined. These blotches under 
the wing are rather V-shaped, but where exposed are only in the end of the 
feather. There are also a few streaks in the crissum." Length, Cj l / 2 
inches; wing, 575; tail, 2.80; tarsus, 1. 14; middle toe and claw, I inch. 
— Baird, I. c. 



79 



WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. 

DONAPARTE'S or Schinz's Sandpiper, by both of 
-*— ' which names (in addition to the one given at the 
head of this article) this species is known, visits the 
eastern portion of North America on its migrations, not 
making a lengthy stay in any place. Coues observed 
it in Kansas migrating northward in flocks, and we may 
suppose it ranges from the Rocky Mountains eastward. 
Along the Atlantic Coast it appears at regular periods, 
passing northward in May, and back again on its south- 
ern journey in July or early in August. It associates 
with the Semipalmated Sandpiper \E. pusillus), which 
it somewhat resembles, but from which it is easily dis- 
tinguished by its greater size. This species is one of 
the gentlest of all the waders, apparently paying little 
attention to an intruder upon its haunts, but allowing 
one to approach closely, not even suspending its occu- 
pation of searching for food. Should a gun be dis- 
charged as the little company draws itself together, the 
survivors fly a short distance in a compact flock, utter- 
ing a low, soft tweet, exhibiting the upper and then the 
under side of the body as they wheel and turn swiftly, 
and then frequently alight near the very spot where 
their companions were slaughtered. When on the wing 
it is recognizable by its white upper tail-coverts, which 
are very conspicuous. In Labrador it is very abundant, 
frequenting the rocky shores covered with seaweed or 
green and slippery from the flying spray. It also 
resorts to muddy flats and shallow pools, into which it 




21. White-rumped Sandpiper. 



WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. 81 

wades up to the breast, in search of marine insects and 
various animalculse, on which it feeds. It is a rather 
common bird at certain seasons on the shores of Lake 
Michigan, having- been taken in Illinois, and also in 
Michigan. In the far north it is a straggler at Point 
Barrow in Alaska, and also breeds on the Mackenzie 
River. MacFarlane found the nest on the shore of the 
Arctic Sea, and on the Barren Grounds. This was 
merely a depression in the ground lined with a few 
decayed leaves, and contained three or four eggs, ru- 
fous drab in color, blotched with dark brown or black, 
confluent at the larger end, and measuring .35 inch 
long by .95 broad. 

TRINGA FUSCICOLLIS. 

Habitat. — Alaska and eastern North America. Breeding in the Arctic 
regions from Greenland to Mackenzie River. In winter to the West 
Indies, South America, on the west coast, to Chili ; Falkland Islands, 
where it is said to breed by Captain Abbott, who saw the young in East 
Falkland. (Dresser, H. E.) Occasional in the British Islands. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head and occiput, back and scapulars, 
black in the center of the feathers and margined with buff, or rusty buff, 
the latter prominent on back and scapulars, which also have the central 
black streak wide ; wing-coverts, brown, margined with grayish white ; 
primaries, dark brown ; rump, blackish brown, feathers margined with gray ; 
upper tail-coverts, white, streaked with dusky ; middle tail-feathers, blackish 
brown ; remainder, pale brown, edged with white ; superciliary stripe, side 
of head, neck all around, breast and flanks, white, streaked narrowly with 
dark brown ; throat and rest of under parts, pure white ; some of the under 
tail-coverts with indistinct dark-brown streaks ; bill, feet, and legs, green- 
ish black. Length, 7*4 inches; wing, 5; culmen, I; tarsus, I. 

Adult in Winter. — Upper parts, brownish gray, indistinctly streaked 
with dusky ; rest of plumage as in summer. 



BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 

D AIRD'S Sandpiper is only an occasional visitor to 
*~* the Atlantic Coast, but is abundant in the interior, 
and in all suitable localities in the Rocky Mountains, 
large flocks having been seen in Colorado, at a height of 
about 14,000 feet, feeding on grasshoppers. It has 
usually been confounded with Bonaparte's Sandpiper (to 
which indeed it bears a close resemblance, but is rather 
smaller), and also with the Pectoral Sandpiper. It is 
about intermediate between the last-named wader and 
the Coast Sandpiper ( T. minutilla), with a general sim- 
ilar pattern of coloration, but it has not such dark 
markings on the breast, nor the chestnut on the scapu- 
lars, as is seen in the last-named species. In its habits 
this pretty Sandpiper does not present any especial 
peculiarities differing from its allies; it associates with 
other waders, frequents the sandy margins of streams 
and muddy flats, is gentle, and has a low soft note. It 
is rather common at certain seasons in Minnesota, the 
Dakotas, Idaho, Montana, Colorado, Arizona, New 
Mexico, etc., keeping as a rule in small companies, 
large flocks being rather the exception. It also visits 
Illinois, but is not so common there as farther west. 
It seems to be more independent of wet lands and 
river banks than its relatives, and is found at times 
hunting for food at quite a distance from water. In 
Alaska, Baird's Sandpiper is not uncommon at Point 
Barrow, where it remains until after the breeding sea- 
son* It occurs on the coast of Siberia, and has been 

82 






W"5 r t % 



i^g$Hte&> 



3L 



22. Baird's Sandpiper. 



BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 83 

taken at St. Lawrence Bay; also at St. Michael's, and 
on Kadiak and Amak Islands, north of the Alaskan 
Peninsula. Dall states that it is not rare on the Yu- 
kon, and it has been procured at Sitka. This species 
arrives at Point Barrow in May before the snow has 
disappeared upon the plains, and keeps about the beach, 
retiring inland as the snow departs, and stays on the 
grassy portion of the plains. The nest, never on 
marshy ground, was hidden in grass, being merely a 
slight depression lined with grass. Mr. MacFarlane 
obtained the eggs on the Barren Ground in the Arctic 
regions, and here, contrary to what has been recorded 
by Murdoch at Point Barrow, the nest was placed in a 
swampy district, in a depression of the ground, care- 
lessly formed of decayed leaves loosely laid and hidden 
by a tuft of grass. The female sits very closely, and 
only leaves the nest when the intruder is almost upon 
her, and then feigns lameness, and employs the other 
usual artifices to draw the observer away. The num- 
ber of eggs is usually four, with a ground color of 
light drab uniformly sprinkled with spots and blotches 
of sepia brown. These markings are distributed gene- 
rally over the whole shell, but are most numerous and 
nearly confluent at the larger end. They measured 
about i}% inches in length by i inch in breadth. 

TRINGA BAIRDII. 

Habitat. — Interior of North America and western portions of South 
America, from the Arctic regions to Chili and Patagonia. Rare on the 
Atlantic Coast of North America and not found on the southern Pacific Coast 
of the United States. Breeding in the Arctic regions, in the valley of the 
Mackenzie River, and in Alaska. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head, back, and scapulars, variegated with 
black and grayish buff, the center of feathers being black, increasing in, 



84 



NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 



width on back and scapulars, and the margins grayish buff; wing-coverts, 
brown, margined with grayish white ; primaries, dark brown, shaft of first 
one white ; rump and upper tail-coverts, brownish black, margined with 
buff; side feathers of the coverts, white, with U-shaped black markings ; 
middle tail-feathers, dark brown; remainder, pale grayish brown, mar- 
gined with white ; sides of head and breast, buff, streaked narrowly with 
dark brown ; throat, abdomen, sides, and under tail-coverts, pure white ; bill, 
feet, and tarsus, black. Length, 7j^ inches; wing, 4^; culmen, ^f— I ; 
tarsus, about I inch. 

Adult in Winter. — Does not differ much from the bird in summer 
plumage, the most noticeable variation being the feathers of the upper 
parts, which are margined with grayish white, giving a general gray hue to 
this part of the plumage ; the head is more gray and lacks the dark buff 
seen in the summer specimens. In other respects there is no appreciable 
difference in the seasonal dress. 




23. Least Sandpiper. 



LEAST SANDPIPER. 

EVERYWHERE throughout the land where suitable 
localities are found, the Peep, congregated in flocks, 
is met with, migrating to the northward in May and re- 
appearing in its accustomed haunts in July. On marshy 
meadows, the shores of creeks, rivers, and lakes, on fields 
of drifting seaweed, and, though not so often, on sandy 
beaches, the Least Sandpiper is one of the most abundant 
of our waders. Confiding and gentle in disposition, it 
betrays no fear of man, and goes quietly about its busi- 
ness picking up its minute articles of food (even when 
the observer stands within a few feet of it), uttering the 
while its low, sweet note. On taking wing, the birds 
mass closely together, fly swiftly, often in an an erratic 
course, showing alternately the upper and lower sides, 
and with shrill peeps circle round the object of their 
momentary alarm. Frequently the flock will alight 
close to the person who had intruded upon their do- 
main, and its members immediately scatter about and 
commence feeding anew. They far outnumber the 
other species of waders, and wherever any of these are 
gathered together, there the little Peep will be found in 
the midst. On account of its small size it is not often 
hunted, the gunner, if he pays any attention to the 
birds at all, waiting until a number are massed together 
on the ground, and then makes a " pot shot" into their 
midst. At such times a great many are killed at one 
discharge of the gun. This species is abundant in 
Labrador, along the shores of Hudson's Bay, and 

85 



86 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

north to the Arctic Circle. In Alaska it has been met 
with sparingly along the coast, but does not seem to 
visit any of the islands in Behring Sea. The nest is a 
depression in the dry moss, into which a little grass is 
placed, and generally four eggs are deposited, light drab 
or yellowish in color, spotted with dark brown, and, as 
is usually the case, most numerous at the larger end. 
They are pyriform in shape, and measure 1.15 by 
.85 inch. 

The Least Sandpiper resembles very closely the 
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Erennetes pusillus), which is 
equally common and widely distributed, but can always 
be distinguished from the last named species by having 
the toes completely cleft. 

T RING A MINUTILLA. 

Habitat. — All of North and South America, breeding from Canada 
northward to the Arctic regions, and from Labrador to Alaska. Occa- 
sional in Europe. 

Adult in Summer Plumage.— -Top of head, back, and scapulars, 
black, margined with reddish buff, the tips of feathers whitish ; wing-cov- 
erts, grayish brown with pale edges, tertials edged with reddish buff; pri- 
maries, dark brown with white shafts ; rump and upper tail-coverts, brown- 
ish black, edges paler, lateral tail-coverts with whitish bars on outer webs ; 
middle tail-feathers, blackish with buff edges ; sides of head, lores, neck, 
and breast, ashy buff, streaked with dark brown ; superciliaries, throat, and 
rest of under parts, pure white, with indistinct spots of brown on throat ; 
bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about 5^-6 inches; wing, 3^-4: 
culmen, ^ ; tarsus, fa. 

Adult in Winter. — Plumage similar to that of summer, but more gray 
ish and less bright, the breast ashy gray, indistinctly streaked with brown. 




CD 

O 

be 

p 

o 



LONG-TOED STINT. 

'"THIS species is a miniature Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, 
* without the lengthened tail and proportionately 
much longer toes. It also resembles somewhat the 
Least Sandpiper on the back, but exhibits very much 
more chestnut on the margin of the feathers of the 
back and head. The breast band is differently colored 
also. It is taken into the North American fauna from 
the fact that a specimen was procured on Otter Island, 
Alaska, June 8, 1885, as stated by Mr. Ridgway in the 
Auk for 1886. It is an Asiatic species, going as far 
east as Japan, and also found in the Indian Archipel- 
ago. It can only be regarded as an accidental straggler 
to our shores. On Behring Island, Stejneger observed 
it in large flocks in May, when it frequented the beach, 
and was very actively engaged picking up small crus- 
taceans from the floating weeds which the surf had cast 
ashore. A few remained to breed, but the majority 
passed on farther north. He was unable to find the 
nest. • The feet of this bird, when the legs are stretched 
out, extend far beyond the end of the middle tail- 
feathers. 

TRINGA DAMACENSIS. 

Habitat. — Asia, breeding northward, probably in the valley of the 
Lena, Otter Island, Behring Sea, Alaska. 

Adult in May. — Feathers of top of head and nape, black in center, mar- 
gined with chestnut; back and scapulars, black, margined with ochra- 
ceous, chestnut, or grayish white ; wing-coverts, dark brown, margined 
with grayish ; primaries, dark brown, first one with white shaft ; rump and 

87 



88 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

upper tail-coverts, black ; lateral coverts, white, a few with central black 
streaks ; middle tail-feathers, pointed, black ; lateral feathers, pale brown, 
edged with white or buffy white ; loral stripe, dark buff; superciliary stripe 
extending to nape, white ; sides of head, buff; throat, white ; band across 
breast, buff, indistinctly spotted with brown in the center, the spots larger, 
darker, and clearer on the sides, extending half way on the flanks ; rest of 
under parts, pure white ; bill, black; feet and legs, grayish yellow. Length, 
$% inches; wing, 3^; culmen, 3^; tarsus, % ; middle toe, %(. 



DUNLIN. 

'"THE European Dunlin is only an accidental visitor 
* to our shores. In pattern and color of plumage, 
there is no appreciable difference, save that the Amer- 
ican bird is brighter in hue. In all the measurements, 
the Dunlin is rather smaller. It does not seem neces- 
sary to give a description of it, as that of the Red-backed 
Sandpiper will answer very well for both forms. The 
average measurements of the European bird are as 
follows : wing, 4. 30-4. 7 5 inches ; culmen, 1 . 1 5-1 . 40 ; tar- 
sus, .85-1; middle toe, .70-.75. The habits of the two 
forms do not diffei . 

TRINGA ALPJNA. 

Habitat. — Northern portions of Old World. In winter to North Africa, 
India, etc. Accidental in eastern North America (west side of Hudson 
Bay) and Long Island. Breeding up to north latitude, 74 . 



AMERICAN RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 

I\ A OSTLY a bird of the seashore, the Red-backed 
* * * Sandpiper frequents in large flocks the Atlan- 
tic Coast as far as Florida, where at times it is very 
abundant, and also that of the Pacific, at least as far 
south as San Francisco. It has been found in num- 
bers in Kansas, Colorado, and the valley of Great Salt 
Lake. Beside the name already given, it is known by 
the gunners in various localities as the Black-bellied 
Sandpiper, Purre, Stib, Fall Snipe, Winter Snipe, Lead- 
back, Brant Snipe, etc. On our coast it frequents sand- 
bars, salt meadows, and muddy flats, arriving in April on 
its northern journey and returning in September. It is 
a very active little bird, continually moving about from 
place to place, very dexterous in obtaining its food of 
minute shellfish, worms, etc., the members of a flock 
keeping close together, both when flying and also when 
on the ground. The flight is very rapid, and the 
maneuvers on the wing are performed as if each and 
every individual was moved by one impulse. This 
Sandpiper migrates through the interior as well as by 
the seacoast, and proceeds in summer into the Arctic 
regions. In Alaska, where it breeds abundantly, it is 
found along the shore of Behring Sea north of Kotze- 
bue Sound, is resident in summer at Point Barrow, 
common at the mouth of the Yukon and at Nulato, and 
in the south is found in Sitka, and on through Brit- 
ish Columbia to California. When they arrive at the 
Yukon they are in full breeding dress, and the flocks 

90 




25. American Red-backed Sandpiper. 



AMERICAN RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 91 

soon scatter, and pairing and nesting begin about the 
i st of June. The males pursue the females, " uttering 
a musical trilling note which falls upon the ear like the 
mellow tinkle of large water drops falling rapidly into 
a partly filled vessel. It is not loud, but has a rich full 
tone difficult to describe, but pleasant to hear among 
the discordant notes of the various water fowl, whose 
hoarse cries arise on all sides. As the lover's suit 
approaches its end, the handsome suitor becomes ex- 
alted, and in his moments of excitement he rises fifteen 
or twenty yards, and hovering on tremulous wings over 
the object of his passion, pours forth a perfect gush of 
music, until he glides back to earth exhausted, but 
ready to repeat the effort a few minutes later." Mur- 
doch says their rolling call is heard all over the tundra 
every day in June, and reminds one of the " notes of 
the frogs in New England in spring." The nest is 
usually placed on some slightly elevated dry knoll, 
though sometimes swampy places are selected, and 
on a bed of dead grass three or four eggs are de- 
posited. In color they are pale greenish, or brownish 
clay, spotted and blotched with chocolate, and umber 
brown. Average size, 1.43 by 1 inch. Both sexes as- 
sist in the duty of incubation, and by the middle of 
July the young are able to fly, and about a month 
afterward they gather in flocks about the pools in com- 
pany with the Pectoral Sandpiper and Long-billed 
Snipe, and by the last of the month all have departed 
for southern lands. In Davis Strait, Baffin's Bay on 
the eastern side of the continent, and on the islands of 
the Polar Sea this species, as stated by Sabine, was 
rare, but it was found abundant and breeding, by Ross, 
on Melville Peninsula and near Felix Harbor. Among 
individuals of the Red-backed Sandpiper there is often 



92 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

great variation in the color of plumage, and also in meas- 
urements, and many as small as the European are often 
taken on our own coasts. The birds from the two 
continents are very closely allied, and it is not always 
possible to separate them by means of any recognizable 
characters, and it is questionable whether anything is 
gained by attempting to divide them into races. 

TRINGA ALPINA PACIFICA. 

Habitat. — Generally throughout North America, most numerous along 
the coasts. Breeding in the Arctic regions, perhaps not so far north as 
the European species. Eastern Asia, islands of Behring Sea. 

Adult in Stitnmer. — Crown and upper parts, except neck, including 
scapulars, bright rufous, streaked and spotted with black; wing-coverts, 
grayish brown, the greater bordered with white ; primaries, pale brown ; 
shafts, white; middle tail-feathers, dark brown, remainder pale brown, 
lighter at the edges ; sides of head, neck, and breast, grayish white, finely 
streaked with dusky ; superciliary stripe and upper part of throat, white ; 
abdomen, black ; flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts, white streaked with 
brown ; bill, feet, and legs, black. Length, 8)4 inches ; wing, 4%-$ ; 
culmen, Ij^-I^f; tarsus, 1^; middle toe, ^. 

Adult in Winter. — Above ash gray, with brown shaft streaks, most 
conspicuous on the mantle and upper tail-coverts; breast, pale grayish 
white, indistinctly streaked with pale brown ; rest of under parts, white. 




26. Curlew Sandpiper. 



CURLEW SANDPIPER. 

A LTHOUGH a very common species in the eastern 
**• hemisphere, we can only regard the Curlew Sand- 
piper as an accidental visitor to our shores. It has 
been taken a number of times on the Atlantic Coast, 
especially on Long Island, that former paradise of 
wading birds, and a few individuals in New England. 
In North Greenland it is stated to be not uncommon, 
and the eggs have been taken near Christianhaab. On 
the western coast in Alaska a male was procured by 
Murdoch at Point Barrow on June 6, 1883, and is the 
only instance of its appearance on our northwestern 
coast. It was in company with a flock of the Pectoral 
Sandpiper. In its habits the Curlew Sandpiper does 
not differ from the Red-backed Sandpiper, is an active 
little bird, and fond of associating with other species of 
waders. It runs upon the shore rapidly, carrying the 
head down, and it flies rather high and swiftly, with 
alternations of the back and breast as it wheels in its 
rapid course. Its food consists of small mollusks, crus- 
taceans, worms, insects, etc., and it is said it also swal- 
lows the roots of marsh plants and small ground fruits, 
and feeds much at night. The eggs that were pro- 
cured in Greenland by Governor Fencker and said to 
be of this species, were pyriform in shape, olive drab 
in color, blotched with two shades of umber brown, 
the markings most numerous at the larger end, and 
measured 1^ by 1.04 inches. The nest, which was but 
a slight hollow in the ground, lined with grass, was 



94 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

near the margin of a lake. Several times it has been 
supposed that the young in down and the eggs have 
been procured in the Old World, but in every instance 
it has been afterwards ascertained that they belonged 
to the Dunlin. I am not aware that any European or 
American naturalist has ever found the nest or eggs of 
this species, and Seebohm considers that no nest or 
eggs has ever been procured, alleging statements to 
the contrary to be myths. Farther evidence on this 
point is certainly desirable. 

TRINGA FERRUGINEA. 

Habitat. — Northern portions of Old World, from the British Islands to 
China. In winter, to Africa, Indian Archipelago, and Australia. Accidental 
in eastern North America and Alaska. Breeding in Greenland and Arctic 
regions. 

Adult in Summer. — Crown, hind-neck, back, and scapulars, black, 
margined with bright rusty ; wing-coverts, brown, margins paler, the greater 
tipped with white ; primaries, dark brown, shafts, white ; rump, blackish 
brown ; upper and under tail-coverts, white, spotted with black ; tail, ashy- 
gray, feathers edged with white ; sides of head, neck, breast, flanks, abdo- 
men and vent, rich chestnut rufous ; some specimens have flanks and lower 
abdomen slightly marked with black ; bill, legs, and feet, greenish black ; 
iris, deep brown. Length, about %]/ 2 inches ; wing, 5 ; culmen, I *-£ ; 
tarsus, i)/%. 

Adult in Winter. — Upper parts, brownish gray with indistinct streaks of 
dusky; rump, blackish gray, feathers margined with white; superciliary 
stripe, sides of head and throat, white, the last two streaked finely with 
gray ; rest of under parts, white. 




"a. 
pi 



a 

o 
o 



SPOON-BILL SANDPIPER. 

I HAVE never seen this species alive. It is a native 
of eastern Asia, and has only twice been taken on 
our shores. Nelson obtained one in summer plumage 
in 1 88 1 at Plover Bay on Choris Peninsula, and Dr. 
Bean the previous year had procured a specimen in 
autumn dress at the same place. Nelson says, "the 
bird was standing on the border of a small gravelly- 
edged pool on a spit at the entrance of the harbor. It 
had evidently fed to its satisfaction, and stood pensively 
at the water's edge when I came along. While watch- 
ing it, before shooting, I saw it dabble its bill in the 
water and then draw in its neck, paying no further 
attention to its surroundings, although I was close by." 
In summer this species is found from Plover Bay to 
Cape Waukarun, and in this part of the Siberian coast 
it is probable that the breeding grounds are situated. 
At the last named place Nelson saw specimens of this 
Sandpiper in August. But few examples of this bird 
have been obtained. It is remarkable among the 
waders for the peculiar widening of the bill towards the 
point, from which it takes its trivial name, and this 
would at once attract the attention of any one who 
should capture a specimen. It is probably a rare 
species everywhere. 

E UR YNORHYNCHUS P YGM^E US. 

Habitat. — Asia. Arctic Coast in summer. In winter probably India or 
Burmah. Accidental in Alaska. Two specimens taken at Choris Penin^ 
sula. Breeding north of Behring Straits. Locality unknown. 

95 



96 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Adult in Summer. — " Crown feathers, with blackish centers edged with 
rusty reddish, approaching chestnut ; back of neck, with the dark centers 
becoming much fainter and the borders rufous, changing to buffy reddish, 
which, in addition to edging the feathers, appears to wash their surface and 
the dark central portions ; the back and scapulars have well marked black 
centers, edged with rufous, buffy and grayish intermixed ; the tertials have 
dark brownish centers, edged with grayish and russet ; wing-coverts, light 
brown, edged with gray ; the secondaries, largely white, and an imperfect 
wing bar formed by the white tips to the secondary coverts ; quills, grayish 
brown, approaching black at the tips ; the chin is whitish, washed with a 
pale shade of rufous, this latter shade becoming bright over the sides of the 
head and entire lower surface of neck, reaching the upper parts of the 
breast ; the forehead, and around the base of the bill, washed with grayish 
over the rufous bases of feathers ; the breast is rich buffy, changing to white 
on the posterior half of breast and entire abdomen ; a scattered band of dark 
opaque shaft spots cross the breast and extend back on the sides, which are 
otherwise white ; the tail is dark, ashy brown ; bill, foot, and tarsus, black. 
Wing measures 3.95 inches; tail, approximately, 1.50 ; tarsus, .90; oil- 
men, .90 ; width of expanded tip, .47. The hind toe is perfect but minute. 
The toes are not webbed." — Nelson. 

Adult in Winter. — Forehead, cheeks, and all the under parts, white ; 
upper parts, dusky, feathers margined with light gray. 

Young. — " Back and scapulars, dusky, the feathers bordered terminally 
with dull whitish, these borders becoming rusty on anterior portion of back 
and scapulars ; wing-coverts, dusky centrally, with still darker shaft streaks, 
and margined with brownish gray, the greater tipped with white ; top of 
head, dull grayish, spotted with dusky, the feathers edged with rusty; rest 
of head, neck (except behind), and lower parts, white, clouded with light 
grayish brown and suffused with dull buffy anteriorly." — Ridgway. 



&£&&&*' 





28. Semipalmated Sandpiper. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 

'"THE Peep, or Ox-eye, as it is often called, is one of 
* the best known and most abundant of the Sand- 
pipers, being seen everywhere on our eastern coast in 
places frequented by waders. It is also a migrant 
through the Mississippi valley, and at times fairly 
swarms upon the salt marshes, muddy flats, and banks 
of tidal creeks and rivers. It goes in large flocks, 
massing in close order when flying, uttering a soft 
whistling note, peep-peep or tweet, and on alighting scat- 
ters over the ground, and falls busily to work, probing 
the soil and picking up the minute creatures on which it 
feeds. * At times the bird is very gentle and seems to 
pay no attention to the intruder on its domain, allow- 
ing a very near approach ; but on other occasions it is 
more wary, ceasing to feed as soon as any one draws 
near. At such times all the members of a flock stand 
motionless for a few moments, and then rise simultane- 
ously with shrill cries, drawing together into a compact 
mass, and with many evolutions and rapid twistings, fly 
around and away for a short distance ; then frequently 
returning (especially if an imitation of their cry is 
given) near to the spot from which they started, when 
they alight and remain motionless, not scattering as 
usual to feed. If the object that alarmed them is still 
present, after watching a few moments they rise again 
and generally seek some other feeding ground. It is 
met with in Texas, also in British Columbia, and it is 
not improbable that flocks of the representative race in 



98 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

the west, the Western Sandpiper (E. occidentalis), often 
contain individuals of this species. To one not looking 
for them, or apt to notice the slight difference existing, 
the two forms would easily be confounded, and the 
presence of either in an unlikely locality pass without 
remark. It is said to be fairly abundant at Point Bar- 
row, Alaska, and along the coast of the Alaskan Penin- 
sula, and in some of the islands of Behring Sea. At 
Franklin Bay in the Barren Grounds, and on the islands 
in the Arctic Sea, this Sandpiper has been found breed- 
ing. The nest was a depression in the midst of some 
dried grass, and the eggs, usually four in number, pyri- 
form in shape. The color varies greatly, from a drab 
to a light grayish buff. The spots, sometimes large 
and distinct, again minute and very numerous, hiding 
the ground color, are reddish or dark sepia in hue. 
They measure 1.15 to 1.25 inches in length, by .80-. 90 
in breadth. 

EREUNETES PUS ILL US. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America, south in winter to the West Indies 
and South America. Breeds in the north to the shores of the Arctic Sea, 
and from Labrador to Rocky Mountains. 

Adult in Summer. — Upper parts with head, grayish brown; central por- 
tion of feathers on back and scapulars, black, margined with pale buff; wing- 
coverts, pale brown, margined with whitish ; primaries, dark brown, in- 
clined to black at their tips ; rump, black, feathers margined with brown • 
upper tail-coverts, blackish brown ; side-coverts, white, with brown streaKs ; 
middle tail-feathers, dark brown, remainder grayish brown; dusky loral 
stripe ; ear-coverts, light brown, streaked with dusky ; superciliary stripe 
and throat, pure white ; breast, ash, striped with brown ; rest of under parts, 
pure white; bill, feet, and. legs, black. Length, 5^ inches to 6)4 ', wm g> 
3^ ; culmen, ^ ; tarsus, J/&. 

Adult in Winter. — There is not very much difference in the winter dress 
on the upper parts, which are perhaps more brownish, but the breast is 
merely washed with grayish, and the streaks are very indistinct, sometimes 
obsolete. 




29. Western Semipalmated Sandpiper. 



WESTERN SANDPIPER. 

HP HIS is the western form of the Semipalmated Sand- 
*■ piper, being very abundant along the Pacific Coast, 
and also in Arizona and Texas as a migrant in May and 
September. Occasionally individuals are met with in 
the Atlantic Coast in company with the Least Sand- 
piper, but it can only be regarded as a straggler in the 
eastern sections of the Union. It is much more rusty 
or chestnut on the upper parts than the Semipalmated 
Sandpiper, and the bill has a considerably greater aver- 
age length. Nelson found it abundant about Norton 
Sound and on the shore of Behring Sea, near St. 
Michael's, and the mouth of the Yukon, where they ar- 
rived about the middle of May. Towards the end of 
the month they forsake the borders of the pools and 
scatter over the tundra, and the male begins his court- 
ing of the shy, retiring female, who " modestly avoids 
the male as he pays his homage, running back and forth 
before her as though anxious to exhibit his tiny form to 
the best advantage. At times his heart beats high 
with pride as he trails his wings, elevates and partly 
spreads his tail, and struts in front of his lady fair 
in all the pompous vanity of a pigmy turkey-cock ; or 
his blood courses in a fiery stream until, filled with 
ecstatic joy, the sanguine lover springs from the earth, 
and rising upon vibrating wings some ten or fifteen 
yards, he poises, hovering in the same position some- 
times nearly a minute, while he pours forth a rapid, 
uniform series of rather musical trills, which vary in 

99 



100 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

strength as they gradually rise and fall, producing 
pleasant cadences. The wings of the songster mean- 
while vibrate with such rapid motion, that they appear 
to keep time with the rapidly trilling notes, which can 
only be likened to the running down of a small spring 
and may be represented by the syllables tzr-r-e-e-e 
zr-e-e-e, zr-e-e-e, in a fine pitched tone with an impetus 
at each z. This part of the song ended, the bird raises 
its wings above its back, thus forming a V and glides 
slowly to the ground, uttering at the same time in a 
trill, but with a deeper and richer tone, a series of notes 
which may be likened to the syllables tzur-r-r-r, tzur- 
r-r-r." The nest is usually placed on a mossy hum- 
mock on slightly elevated ground, sheltered by grassy 
stems, the male remaining in the vicinity while the 
female is on the nest. The female when disturbed 
feigns lameness, or utters low, plaintive notes as if be- 
seeching the intruder to spare her treasures. The eggs 
are a pale clay color, shading to brownish clay, covered 
with fine light reddish brown spots, or chocolate 
blotches, most numerous at the larger end. The old and 
young leave in September for the south, the last loit- 
erer having gone by the ist of October. In its habits 
this species does not vary from the Least Sandpiper, 
and is of an equally gentle and trusting disposition. 

EREUNETES OCCIDENTALS. 

Habitat. — Western North America, from Alaska south in winter to Cen- 
tral and South America. Occasional on the Atlantic Coast. Breeding in 
Alaska. 

Adult in Summer. — Feathers of crown, nape, back, and scapulars, 
centrally blotched with black and margined with rusty and grayish white ; 
the rust color sometimes is uniform on sides of crown and neck ; wing- 
coverts and primaries, like E. pusillus ; rump and middle tail-coverts, 
brownish black, slightly edged with pale brown or rufous ; lateral tail-coverts, 



WESTERN SANDPIPER. 101 

white, some with brown streaks ; tail, like E. pusillus; loral stripe and ear- 
coverts, rusty, finely streaked with brown ; throat, sides of neck, and under 
parts, pure white, the neck and breast thickly streaked with blackish 
brown; bill, feet, and legs, black ; wing, average t> 3 X- inches; oilmen. .95 ; 
tarsus, y&. 

Adult in Winter — This species can only be distinguished in the winter 
dress from E. pusillus by the greater length of bill and tarsus. Some 
specimens may have more rusty on the upper parts, but the general appear- 
ance is very much the same. 



SANDERLING. 

O ANDERLING, Beach Bird, or Ruddy Plover, by all 
^ of which names this species is known, is distributed 
throughout the globe, and is found on both coasts of 
North America as well as in the interior, and is one of 
the most familiar of our waders. It breeds in the far 
north, but seems to be rather rare in portions of Alaska, 
although Dall found it common at Nulato, and on the 
Yukon to the sea. It usually frequents the beaches, 
running over the sand with great rapidity, keeping 
close to the margin of the water and following the 
receding waves, picking up with great dexterity the 
minute molluscae and insects left by the retiring surf. 
Its agility in avoiding the incoming billows and rush 
of the seething foam-covered water as it mounts the 
beach is extraordinary, and often it wades into wavelets 
up to its belly to seize some coveted morsel. It is gen- 
erally rather wary, not permitting a very near approach 
when so occupied, the little flock if disturbed rising 
and with shrill whistles flying for a hundred yards 
along the beach, then alighting and commencing again 
to feed. When flying individuals keep closely together, 
the wings curved downwards, and moved with rapid, 
jerky beats. 

This species is the commonest of the beach birds on 
our shores, and can almost always be found along the 
margin of the water during the season when any of the 
waders are present within our limits. It may occa- 
sionally be seen upon the shoals and mud flats near bays 

102 



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>. ■ 

1 


) 


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.1 .. , 


mm 


D : w l 




T> 


ssp?w3&. 



'ftr'C^ 



SANDERLING. 103 

and pools, but it is essentially a beach bird, preferring 
the vicinity of the ocean, over which it frequently 
makes long flights at some distance from the land. 
The Sanderling is generally seen in moderately sized 
flocks, but many such may be observed at various 
distances apart, along a vast extent of sea-beach, and 
each little company keeps pretty well to itself, not often 
mixing with others, except when the gunner has re- 
duced its ranks by several discharges of his gun, when 
the survivors will usually unite with some other flock 
that has been more fortunate in keeping out of danger. 
In the spring and autumn migrations it is not uncom- 
mon about the Great Lakes, and has been observed in 
various States in the Mississippi Valley, but it is most 
abundant on the seacoasts. When running over the 
sands it has the habit of raising its wings above the 
back, as if just about to fly, and if wounded will often 
take to the water, upon which it floats lightly and 
swims easily. Its foods consists of small crustaceans, 
worms, insects, and in the far north it has been ob- 
served to eat the buds of the saxifrage. Not much is 
known of the breeding habits of this interesting little 
bird. MacFarlane found a nest in the Barren Ground, 
east of Anderson River, close to the Arctic Sea, and 
Captain Fielding observed it breeding in Grinnell Land, 
west of Cape Union, on the shores of the Frozen Ocean. 
The Barren Ground nest was composed of hay and 
decayed leaves, and contained four eggs, and the female 
was secured. The nest found by Captain Fielding was 
merely a depression in a plant of willow lined with 
leaves and catkins. The male was killed, which seems 
to show that both sexes incubate the eggs. These are 
bufnsh or brownish olive, faintly spotted with olive 
brown or bister, with underlying markings of olive 



104 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

gray. Sometimes the markings are mostly at the 
larger end, but again they are pretty evenly distributed 
over the surface. 

CALIDRIS ARENARIA. 

Habitat. — Cosmopolitan. Breeding in Arctic regions, Anderson River, 
Grinnell Land, Greenland, Sabine Island, Iceland. South in winter to 
Chili and Patagonia. 

Adult in Summer. — Crown, nape, mantle, and scapulars have the cen- 
ter of all the feathers black, margined with rufous and grayish white, the 
latter hue very conspicuous ; wing-coverts, ashy brown, margined with 
rufous or grayish white ; the greater coverts, margined with white, forming 
quite a broad bar across the wing ; primaries, dark brown, blackish towards 
the tips ; shafts, white ; rump, dark brown, feathers margined with grayish 
white, mixed with rufous ; middle tail-covets, black, margined with rufous 
and whitish ; lateral tail-coverts, white, with occasional black central streaks ; 
tail, grayish brown, central pair darkest ; side of head, throat, neck, and 
breast, light rufous, speckled and streaked with black ; rest of under parts, 
pure white ; bill, legs, and feet, jet black. Length, 8 inches ; wing, 5 ; 
culmen, I ; tarsus, I. 

Adult in Winter. — Upper parts, pale gray, center of feathers black; 
rump, pearl gray, center of feathers light brown ; entire under parts, pure 
white ; tail as in summer, perhaps a little lighter. 




3i. Marbled Godwit. 



MARBLED GODWIT. 

INHABITING North America generally, the Marbled 
* Godwit breeds in the Mississippi valley, also in the 
Missouri region, and from the Saskatchewan to Texas, 
and as far east as Western Pennsylvania, as I am in- 
formed by Mr. George B. Sennett, going in winter to 
the Argentine Republic. In the Arctic regions it is at 
times very abundant, and also on the Saskatchewan 
plains; but it has not been obtained in Alaska. It 
arrives in May on the Atlantic Coast of the United 
States on its northern migration, in moderate sized 
flocks, but cannot be said to be anywhere very numer- 
ous. It frequents the salt marshes and borders of 
pools and ponds, is very watchful and wary, and does 
not permit a near approach, taking wing soon after it 
has noticed an intruder on its domain. Like the Cur- 
lews and it's relatives in the same genus, members of a 
flock are greatly attached to each other, and if any are 
wounded the others will return again and again to the 
place, and hover over their luckless companions, fre- 
quently meeting the same fate that has befallen them. 
This species is known in various localities by many 
names, some of which are : Red Curlew, Straight- 
billed Curlew, Marlin, Horsefoot Marlin, etc. On the 
Pacific Coast this species is found in numbers in 
Southern California, and probab 1 y breeds there, as 
Cooper states that the young make their appearance 
in May near San Pedro. Sometimes this Godwit goes 
in immense flocks, like that mentioned by Audubon, 

105 



1 06 NOR TH A ME RICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

near Cape Sable, in Florida, when he saw thousands 
collected on a mud bar; but usually there are not 
more than twenty or thirty observed together. Like 
all the waders, however, they are met with on our 
eastern coast yearly in diminished numbers ; im- 
proved firearms and the constantly increasing army of 
gunners serving to reduce their ranks, until they have 
been entirely driven away from many localities where 
formerly they were abundant. The nest is usually 
placed near the water, and is a depression in the 
ground lined with grass ; the color of the egg is an olive 
drab, spotted with various shades of yellow and umber 
brown. They measure 2.27 by 1.60 inches. 

LIMOSA FEDOA. 

Habitat. — North America generally. Breeding in the interior, from 
Iowa and Dakota, north to Lake Winnipeg. Southward in winter to Cuba, 
Guatemala, Yucatan, and South America to Argentine Republic on the east 
coast. 

Adult. — Head and neck, pale buff, streaked with black, the streaks 
broadest and most numerous on the crown and nape ; entire upper parts 
and scapulars, reddish buff, irregularly barred with black, sometimes the 
bars becoming confluent; wing-coverts, reddish-buff, barred with dusky; 
first three primaries, dark brown on the outer web and tips, reddish brown 
on the inner, speckled with black ; remaining primaries, reddish brown, 
speckled with blackish brown on both webs, and with a subterminal black- 
ish-brown bar ; rump and upper tail-coverts, buff, diagonally barred with 
dark brown ; tail, reddish, irregularly barred with dark brown ; broad, 
white stripe from bill to above the eye ; loral stripe, dark brown ; throat, 
white ; entire under parts, pale rufous, varying in intensity among individ- 
uals, transversely crossed with wavy dark-brown lines on all the feathers, 
save the center of abdomen and vent, which is a uniform pale buff; under 
wing-coverts, reddish buff; bill, flesh color on basal half, blackish brown 
on the remaining part ; feet, dark bluish gray. Length, i6j^-20^ inches ; 
wing, 8^f ; culmen, 3^ ; tarsus, 2% ; middle toe, iy 2 . 



PACIFIC GODWIT. 

A NATIVE of eastern Asia, the Pacific Godwit is a 
summer resident of Alaska, and also an occasional 
visitor to Southern California, having been taken by Mr. 
Belden at La Paz, as recorded by Bryant. In Alaska, 
Dall found it very plentiful about the mouth of the 
Yukon, and it is sometimes seen at Point Barrow. At 
St. Michael's, Nelson saw them in flocks of from twen- 
ty-five to two hundred. They were shy, constantly in 
motion, wheeling and circling over the land, alighting 
occasionally, but only for a moment. By the middle of 
May the courtship begins, the flocks break up, and the 
birds scatter over their breeding ground. The males, he 
says, utter a loud ringing ku-wew, kil-wew, with great 
emphasis on the last syllable, which can be heard for 
several hundred yards. They frequent the grassy open 
country, and should any one enter their territory they 
protest against the intrusion by circling around and 
uttering ear-piercing cries of ku-wew. If the nest or 
young is near they swoop close to the offender's head, 
redoubling their cries. The same note is heard dur- 
ing the courtship, and they also have a rolling whistle 
at this season resembling that of the field Plover. 
When flying the wings are decurved, and with a few 
rapid strokes they sail for a short distance, then repeat 
the beats. It walks well and gracefully with head well 
up, and frequently raises the wings high above the 
back and then folds them again. Like most of their 
tribe this species comes readily to decoys if their note 

107 



108 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

is well imitated. The young are on the wing by the 
middle of July, and by the end of August all have de- 
parted. Nelson says that in the breeding season all 
the birds in the neighborhood will unite to escort a dog 
through their territory with the most resounding cries. 
This species is a regular visitor to the Commander 
Islands during the migratory season, but does not seem 
to breed there. The large size of this bird and its loud 
voice makes it one of the most conspicuous of the wad- 
ers in the countries it frequents. Dall found it very 
common on the Pastolik marshes north of the Yukon 
mouth, as well as the place where the great river enters 
the sea, and he says it is the largest snipe found in the 
country. The nest is a rounded depression in a sedge 
tussock lined with grass, and the eggs, two in number, 
are light olivaceous in color, spotted with various shades 
of brown, resembling somewhat those of the Marbled 
Godwit. They measure 2.25 inches in length by 1.45 
in breadth. 



LIMOSA LAPP O NIC A BAUER! 

Habitat. — Shores and islands of the Pacific Ocean from Australia to 
Alaska. On the American coast, Alaska in summer; and also from La 
Paz, Lower California. Breeding possibly in Siberia. 

Adult in Summer. — Top of head and hind-neck, streaked with black- 
ish brown, feathers edged with yellowish white ; back and scapulars, 
blackish brown, feathers margined gray, buff, or rufous ; wing-coverts, ashy 
brown, bordered with whitish, the lesser coverts darker than the greater ; 
primaries, brownish black on outer web, paler on inner, and with white 
shafts ; rump, dark brown, bordered with white ; upper tail-coverts, white, 
barred with dark brown, some of the central ones cinnamon ; tail, brown- 
ish gray, barred irregularly at base, and for two-thirds the length of inner 
webs with white, and tipped with white ; lores, dark brown ; stripe from 
bill to eye, buffy white ; entire under surface, buffy red, barred irregularly 
on flanks and under tail-coverts with dark brown ; bill, flesh color on basal 



PACIFIC GOD WIT. 109 

half, blackish brown for the remainder. Length, 16 inches; wing, 83^ ; 
culmen, 2>}i > tarsus, 2*^. 

The Female in Summer. — Like the male, but the under surface is paler 
and mixed with white, as if immature, and she averages larger in all 
measurements. 

Adult in Winter. — Crown, back of neck, and upper parts, brownish 
gray, lightest on head and neck, with the center of feathers dark brown ; 
under parts, brownish ash on throat and neck, white on breast and abdo- 
men, faintly barred on sides. There seems to be a wide variation in color 
and pattern among individuals in their plumage. 



HUDSONIAN GODWIT. 

r T , HE Hudsonian Godwit, or Ring-tail Marlin, is, ac- 
* cording to my experience, more often met with, 
especially on Long Island and the New Jersey Coast, 
than the Marbled Godwit, but is not common at any 
time. It is found generally throughout the country 
east of the Rocky Mountains, but never, so far as I am 
aware, on the Pacific Coast of the United States south 
of Alaska. It is a regular visitant, during migration, 
to the States bordering on the Great Lakes, and is often 
procured in full breeding plumage in Minnesota, Da- 
kota, and some other of the adjacent States. It fre- 
quents the marshes and salt meadows near the sea, and 
from its large size is very conspicuous among the other 
waders scattered about in its vicinity. It is known by 
many names to the gunners, such as Red-breasted and 
Rose-breasted Godwit, Goose-bird, Black-tail, White 
Rump, Carolina Willet, etc., but perhaps that of Ring- 
tail Marlin, to distinguish it from its relative, is the most 
familiar. Its white upper tail-coverts are clearly shown 
when the bird is flying, contrasting strongly with the 
dark rump and tail. It is rare on the Atlantic Coast in 
the full breeding dress, examples taken being in the 
young plumage, or in partial summer costume. Like 
the other Godwit, its larger relative, it is a shy bird dur- 
ing migration, and keeps a watchful eye on an intruder 
on its domain, rising at a considerable distance and utter- 
ing its shrill cry. It sometimes decoys readily, setting 




r.Uh.SU^avcl- 



33. Hudsonian Godwit. 



HUDSONIAN GOD WIT. Ill 

its wings and sailing up to the wooden counterfeits, 
lured on by a close imitation of its note ; but soon dis- 
covers the deception and either alights only for a mo- 
ment, or else wheels about over the decoys, and hastily 
departs, provided it escapes the rain of shot from the 
discharged gun of the concealed sportsman. About 
Hudson's Bay it is met with in large flocks, resorting 
to the beach when the tide is low, and feeding on the 
Crustacea it discovers there, retiring to the marshes as 
the tide rises. 

It has been taken at Great Slave Lake, and 
on the Anderson River, and MacFarlane found it 
breeding in the vicinity of Fort Anderson. It also 
breeds on the Barren Grounds near the Arctic Ocean. 
The nest, formed of decayed leaves, is placed in a 
depression in the ground, and the eggs, usually four in 
number, pyriform in shape, are dark olive drab, spotted 
and blotched with reddish brown, measuring 2. 15 to 2.22 
in length by 1.39 to 1.41 in breadth. In Alaska the 
Hudsonian Godwit appears to be rare ; Dall obtained 
two specimens at the mouth of the Yukon, and one was 
procured at Nulato. Nelson says it occurs more com- 
monly at Fort Yukon as a migrant, but although it 
undoubtedly breeds in the Territory, its nest has not 
been discovered. In the Argentine Republic, where 
many individuals of this species pass our winter, the 
summer of the southern hemisphere, they appear on 
the pampas in April and remain until September. 
They associate in small flocks of from twelve to thirty 
individuals. 

Birds from both the Arctic and Antarctic regions 
must meet and mingle together, a curious circum- 
stance, remarks Hudson, * ' so far from the breeding 
place of one set of individuals and so near to that of 



112 NOR TH A ME RICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

the other." In May the species has been observed in 
the Falkland Islands. 



LIMOSA HsEMASTICA. 

Habitat. — North America, east of Rocky Mountains; also in Alaska; 
migrating in winter to Cuba, and in South America to the Argentine Repub- 
lic and to Chili. Breeding from Baffin's Bay to Alaska. 

Adult in Summer. — Head, back, and sides of neck, grayish white, 
sometimes suffused with buff, and streaked narrowly with black ; back 
and scapulars, black, feathers with spots or bars of buff and edged with 
grayish white, this edging in some examples almost obsolete, when the 
buff spots become more conspicuous ; lesser wing-coverts, dark brown, mar- 
gined with pale brown ; greater coverts, dark brown, margined with white, 
forming an obscure bar across the wing ; primaries, blackish brown, shafts 
white ; secondaries, blackish brown, with buff and white spots or broken 
bars on outer webs; axillaries, brownish black; rump, brownish black; 
upper tail-coverts, pure white ; tail, black, the base and tip white ; super- 
ciliary stripe, white, speckled with dark brown ; throat, buffy white, nar- 
rowly streaked with black ; lower parts, dark chestnut, narrowly barred 
with black ; feathers, margined with grayish white on the sides and on the 
abdomen; under tail-coverts, white, barred with black, sometimes with 
buff also ; bill, flesh color, black for apical third ; feet and legs, grayish 
blue; iris, brown. Length, 14-16 inches; wing, 8; tail, 3^ ; culmen, 3; 
tarsus, 2%. 

Adult in Winter. — Head, neck, and lower parts, grayish buff, shaded 
with brownish gray ; upper parts, dark grayish brown ; wings, rump, tail, 
etc., as in summer. The young resemble the winter plumage, but the 
feathers of the back have a subterminal blackish-brown bar, edged with 
buff; beneath, pale buffy gray. 




34- Black-tailed Godwit. 



BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 

A N occasional appearance in Greenland is the only 
** claim this species has to a place in the North 
American fauna. It belongs to the Old World, not 
common in Great Britain, but breeds in the northern 
part of the continent of Europe, as far westward as the 
coast opposite the British islands. It migrates from 
its African winter quarters in large flocks and spreads 
over various portions of the European continent. It 
breeds in Poland, making a depression in a tussock and 
lines it with grass. Four eggs are deposited, dull 
greenish in color, marked with dark brownish olive, 
and the birds resent with loud cries any intrusion into 
their domain, as has been already mentioned in the de- 
scription of the Pacific Godwit. In its habits this spe- 
cies does not seem to differ from its allies of this genus. 
It is said to fearlessly attack any cow or horse, or pur- 
sue any hawk or crow that may approach its nest. It 
occurs in India, China, and North Australia, and repre- 
sents our Hudsonian Godwit in the Old World. 

LIMOSA LIMOSA. 

Habitat, — Northern portions of Old World. Accidental in Greenland. 
Breeding in northern Europe and in Arctic regions of old World to 64 
north latitude. 

Adult in Summer. — Head and neck all around, dark cinnamon ; crown 
and nape, streaked with black; back and scapulars, black, margined with 
grayish brown and ferruginous ; wing-coverts, brownish gray, the greater 
tipped broadly with white, forming a bar on the wing ; secondaries, white 
on outer web ; primaries, brownish black, pale on inner web, with white 

113 



1 1 4 NOR TH A M ERICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

shafts ; under wing-coverts, white ; rump, very dark brown ; upper tail- 
coverts, pure white ; tail, black, basal half white, center feathers tipped 
with white ; breast, pale cinnamon, barred with dusky ; rest of lower parts, 
white, barred with black and cinnamon ; middle of abdomen and under 
tail- coverts, nearly pure white, with a few brown bars ; bill, blackish 
brown, orange at base; legs and feet, black; iris, brown. Length, 15^ 
inches ; wing, 8 ; culmen, 3^ ; tarsus, 2%. 

Adult in Winter. — Wings and their coverts, lower back, upper tail-cov- 
erts, and tail, same as in summer; head, neck, upper back, and scapulars^ 
dark brownish gray ; fore-neck, pale gray ; lower parts, white. 




Tail of the Black- tailed Godwit. 




CO 



e 



GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. 

A LTHOUGH breeding within the limits of the Union, 
^*- the Big Yellow-leg is known throughout the 
United States mostly as a migrant. It appears along 
the Atlantic Coast in the spring, about the middle of May 
on Long Island, on its way to its northern breeding 
grounds, returning again in August. As a rule it does 
not make a very protracted stay in any locality, the 
earlier arrivals making way for those succeeding, and 
by the beginning or middle of October the last strag- 
gler has moved on towards its winter home in the 
South. It is a common species throughout the interior 
wherever water is plentiful, and is numerous on the 
coast of California, where it may be found about the 
marshes, both fresh and salt, nearly throughout the 
year. It may possibly breed in that State. This bird 
is known by many names in the different localities it 
frequents, some of which are Telltale Snipe, Yelper, 
Winter Yellow-leg, Yellow-shins, Cu-cu, and Large 
Cu-cu, Stone Bird, etc. It is a noisy species, continu- 
ally uttering its shrill whistling note, by imitating 
which it can be easily brought to the decoys, even 
when the flock is flying at a considerable elevation. 
When the birds first hear the familiar call, they check 
their onward progress, and on stationary wings sail 
around the spot in a wide circle, as if trying to ascer- 
tain the exact locality from which the sound proceeds. 
Then, as the three notes composing the call are re- 
peated, they catch sight of the decoys, and rapidly de- 

115 



116 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

scending, sometimes in a zigzag, erratic course, they 
fly to leeward of their counterfeit representatives, and 
turning against the wind, with shrill whistling cries, 
sail up in compact ranks and hover for a moment over 
the wooden images, preparing to alight in their midst. 
Then is the sportsman's opportunity, who, rising in his 
blind of grass or reeds, discharges both barrels of his 
gun into the midst of the jostling birds, strewing the 
ground with the dead and wounded. The survivors, 
with cries of alarm, on quickly moving pinions hurry 
from the dangerous spot, and when but a little distance 
away the familiar whistle again falls upon their ears, and 
circling round with trustful confidence they return 
to the place where their comrades are lying. Once 
more the fatal storm of shot bursts upon them, thinning 
their ranks, when, now fairly alarmed, the few remaining 
birds depart swiftly, paying no further heed to the hid- 
den charmer, charm he ever so wisely and well. This 
species on alighting raises its wings high over the back, 
as if, distrusting the ground, it was about to take flight, 
and then slowly folds them into their proper place. 
Sometimes on the Atlantic Coast there are great flights 
of this snipe, and again it is rather scarce, at all events 
in comparison with other waders. I do not think it is 
ever so numerous as the succeeding species. It keeps 
to the marshes and shores of tidal creeks and rivers, 
also the muddy flats that are often spread out to a great 
extent, feeding on small Crustacea, insects, worms, etc., 
and often wades into the water up to its belly. It walks 
easily and with somewhat of a stately carriage, holding 
the head well up and keeping a sharp lookout for all 
intruders. The eggs of the Big Yellow-leg have not 
been often taken. They are grayish white, spotted with 
various shades of brown and lilac covering the surface, 



GREATER YELLOW-LEGS. 117 

most numerous at the larger end. The nest is but a 
slight depression in the ground near the water and lined 
sparsely with grass. The eggs are four in number, 
and measure 1.70 by 1.30 inches. In South America the 
Big Yellow-leg arrives in the Argentine Republic in 
October, and is quite common about the ponds and 
marshes. It leaves for the north in March, and its 
place is then supplied by others arriving probably from 
the Antarctic regions, coming north to the pampas to 
pass the winter. So the species is found in that coun- 
try all the year round, its supplies having been drawn 
from two independent sources. It is not known, how- 
ever, to breed there, the Antarctic birds going farther 
south for the purpose of incubation, the others proceed- 
ing to the northern portions of North America for the 
nesting season. 

TOT ANUS MELANOLEUCUS. 

Habitat. — North America generally, migrating in winter to Argentine 
Republic and Chili. Breeds from the Northern States, such as Illinois, 
Wisconsin, Iowa, etc., northward. Found by Audubon breeding in 
Labrador. Probably also in Alaska, although its nest has not yet been 
found there. 

Adult in Summer. — Head and neck all around, white, streaked with 
black ; back and wings, variegated with black and gray and white, the 
markings in the shape of triangular spots at the edge of the webs ; prima- 
ries, brownish black ; rump, brownish black, feathers edged with grayish 
white ; upper tail-coverts, white, irregularly and narrowly barred with 
black ; middle tail-feathers, pale gray, barred with dusky ; remainder, 
white, barred with black ; throat and entire under parts, white, streaked 
conspicuously with black on breast, and barred with same on flanks and 
under tail -coverts ; bill, black; feet and legs, yellow. Length, 15 inches; 
wing, 8; culmen, 2^ ; tarsus, 2.y z ; middle toe, I *^. 

Adult in Winter. — Similar to the summer dress, but the upper parts 
and wings are ash gray, with little or no black, and the margins of the 
feathers and spots white ; under parts, pure white, the breast and flanks 
faintly marked with brownish gray. 



LITTLE YELLOW-LEGS. 

THE Little Yellow-legs is the Big Yellow-legs in 
A miniature, the plumage being almost exactly the 
same in pattern and coloration. It is more numerous 
than its large relative, and is found generally through- 
out the Jnited States, but not so abundant west of the 
Rocky Mountains, except perhaps in Alaska, where it 
has been found from Sitka to the Yukon, on the upper 
portion of which river it is common. It has also been 
obtained on some of the islands in Behring Sea. This 
snipe is very sociable, goes in flocks of considerable 
size, and is always calling for others to come and join 
it. Its cry is very similar to that of the larger species, 
consisting of three shrill notes rapidly uttered; and 
the habits do not vary from those of its relative. It is 
easily decoyed, more so than the Greater Yellow-legs, 
and as it approaches the lures lowers its long legs and 
hovers over them. On the seacoast, like all the 
Avaders, it is apt to have a sedgy flavor, but this is not 
apparent in the birds obtained in the interior away 
from salt water. This bird is known as Summer Yel- 
low-leg, Tell-tale, and by many of the names bestowed 
on the other species. It breeds in the Arctic regions, 
probably across the continent in the same high lati- 
tudes. Its nests have been found at Great Slave Lake 
and in the Anderson River district. It resents intru- 
sion on its breeding grounds, flying about with hang- 
ing legs and drooping wings, and uttering incessantly 
loud shrill cries. While of gentle disposition, it is very 

118 



LITTLE YELLOW-LEGS. 119 

watchful, and often alarms other waders and causes 
them to take wing, much to the chagrin of the sports- 
man who has waited patiently for a long time in his 
cramped quarters and uncomfortable position in hopes 
he may draw them by well-imitated notes to his place 
of concealment. This species visits the shores of Hud- 
son's Bay in large flocks on its southern migration. It 
passes regularly through the valley of the Mississippi 
in the spring and autumn, associating often with the 
Big Yellow-leg, and is usually most abundant when 
going southward. It breeds in Illinois and Ohio, pos- 
sibly farther south, as well as in the far north. The 
nest is but a depression in the ground, placed amid the 
grass, near water, lined with leaves or twigs. The 
eggs, generally four in number, are of a light drab 
color or brown, blotched with chocolate or rufous, 
sometimes with a much paler tint, pyriform in shape, 
and measure i^-i^ inches in length by ij4 in 
breadth. 

TOT ANUS FLA VLPES. 

Habitat. — North America, less common in the west than in the eastern 
provinces, going in winter to Patagonia. Breeding in the Arctic regions from 
the Yukon to Greenland ; is not rare in Alaska, and is found in Greenland. 

Adult in Summer. — Crown and nape, mixed brown, black, and white, 
the latter hue on the edge of the feathers ; neck, white, streaked with dark 
brown ; back and scapulars, ashy brown, with blotches of black and spots 
of white ; primaries, dark brown ; rump, brownish black, feathers edged 
with white ; upper tail- coverts, pure white, with occasional black bars, 
some indistinct ; central tail-feathers, gray, barred with brown and white ; 
outer feathers white, barred with brownish black ; under parts, pure white, 
streaked with black on neck and breast, and barred with same on flanks 
and some of the under tail-coverts ; bill, black ; feet and legs, yellow. 
Length, II inches ; wing, 6}( ; culmen, 1)4; tarsus, 2*^ ; middle toe, I. 

Adult in Winter. — Upper parts, ash, variegated on scapulars and back 
with white spots ; head, neck, and breast, ash, with white streaks ; rest of 
under parts, pure white ; other parts, as in summer. 



EUROPEAN GREENSHANK. 

A UDUBON obtained three specimens of this bird 
** on Sand Key, near Cape Sable, Florida, and this is 
the only recorded instance of its occurrence in North 
America. It is a native of the Old World, and is com- 
mon in many portions of the continent of Europe during 
the migrations ; also is distributed generally through 
China in winter, and in the island of Hainan it goes in 
flocks of thousands. It is common in India, and in 
Africa is found from the Mediterranean to the Cape of 
Good Hope. In the British islands the Greenshank is 
a rather wary bird, and can be approached when feed- 
ing only with difficulty. It is said to resemble the 
Avocet in the manner of procuring its food, placing the 
bill upon the surface of the water and swinging it from 
side to side, leaving a zigzag line traced upon the mud 
at the bottom. This species swallows water insects 
and their larvae, small beetles, tadpoles, and sometimes 
fish and frog spawn, worms and small fish. The nest 
is a depression in the grass in marshy ground, and the 
eggs are buffy white, spotted with dark brown, with 
underlying markings of purplish brown. 

TOTANUS LITTOREUS. 

Habitat. — Old World. Accidental in Florida. Breeds in Siberia from 
latitude 6o° to 66°. 

Adult in Spring Plumage. — Head, neck, scapulars and back, striped 
with black on a gray ground, and with the margin of feathers white ; wing- 
coverts, dark brown, some edged with white ; primaries, blackish brown, 

120 




38. European Greenshank. 



EUROPEAN GREEN SHANK. 121 

shaft of first white ; lower back, rump, and upper tail-coverts, white, the 
latter barred irregularly with black ; central tail-feathers gray, barred with 
dusky, remainder pure white, the two next the central pair barred with 
black ; entire under surface, white, neck and breast spotted with black ; 
bill, black; legs and feet, olive green. Length, 14^ inches; culmen, 2% ; 
wm g> lYz\ tarsus, 2^". 

Adult in Winter. — Above, pale ash gray, the feathers edged with white; 
forehead, white ; lores and center of forehead, dusky black ; under sur- 
face, pure white. 



SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 

THE Solitary Sandpiper, or Wood Tattler, isamigra- 
*■ tory species in the United States. It breeds within 
the limits of the Union and also farther north, but passes 
onward, as the darkening skies and mournful sighing 
winds of autumn herald the approach of winter's cold and 
storms, to the far-away districts of the southern conti- 
nent, where it remains until the recurring season brings 
the desire to return to the place where last year's nest 
was formed and the young brood was raised. While 
loving solitude, it is not a morose or monkish species, 
shunning its kind, but is frequently met with in small 
companies of five or six individuals, on the banks of 
some quiet pool in a secluded grove, peacefully glean- 
ing a meal from the yielding soil or surface of the 
placid water. As they move with a sedate walk about 
their chosen retreat, each bows gravely to the others, 
as though expressing a hope that his friend is enjoying 
most excellent health, or else apologizing for intruding 
upon so charming a retreat and such select company. 
At times they run rapidly along the margin of the 
pond, often with the wings raised high above the back, 
occasionally rising in the air to pursue some flying 
insect, which is caught with much skill and agility. 
The actions are light, quick at times, and graceful, and 
the bird flies rapidly, its neat plumage showing to great 
advantage when the wings are outspread, as it skims 
swiftly over the surface of the water, across open glades, 
or amid the trunks and branches of the trees. In ad- 

122 



w 
p 
p 
pi 

T3 




SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 123 

dition to such places as the one described, the Solitary 
Sandpiper frequents tidal creeks, and rivulets away 
from the sea, and occasionally salt marshes ; but I have 
never seen it on the beach, although I believe it does 
visit the borders of the ocean at rare intervals. It is 
often seen at high elevations in damp meadows or mar- 
gins of springs and pools among the mountains, where 
its low soft whistling note sounds mournfully amid the 
stillness of the surrounding forest. When startled, as a 
rule they do not fly far, but settle soon again, and re- 
gard the cause of their temporary alarm with a quiet, 
indifferent gaze. It feeds on insects, larvae, worms, 
small crustaceans, etc., such as compose the daily bill 
of fare of the members of the Snipe family, and when 
it has satisfied its hunger it will remain standing often 
up to its breast in the water or drawn into a small com- 
pass on the shore. It frequently may be seen walking 
calmly in the water with slow measured steps, like the 
heron does when looking for a good place to exercise 
his piscatory abilities. 

Although this species breeds in so many places 
throughout the United States in the more northern lat- 
itudes, its nest and eggs have been rarely met with. 
Indeed, there really seems to be only one sufficiently 
authenticated instance of the true eggs having been 
taken. This was near Lake Bombazine, in Vermont, 
when Mr. Richardson discovered the nest upon the 
ground and shot the female as she was leaving it. The 
eggs were pyriform in shape, light drab in color, spot- 
ted with various shades of brown. They measured 
1.37 X -95 inches, and resembled those of the Piping Plov- 
er (^E. meloda). Mr. Davis also took what he supposed 
to be an egg of this species in an open field on the borders 
of the Scioto River, near Columbus, Ohio, but he does 



1 24 NORTH A ME RICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

not state that the parent was procured or even seen. It 
is not unlikely that this bird nests in holes in trees. 
In Alaska this species was seen in small numbers, at 
Auvik and Nulato, on the lower Yukon, but its nest was 
not found. In the Argentine Republic the Solitary 
Sandpiper arrives later than the other Sandpipers, and 
shunning the plains, frequents similar localities to those 
it selects in its northern home — small pools sheltered 
by trees or herbage — and remains in its chosen spot as 
long as any water is left. It is stated to be more wild 
and wary in that country, and frequently emits a clear, 
penetrating trisyllabic cry, especially when on the wing, 
when it is uttered continually. Mr. Hudson once saw 
a Solitary Sandpiper and a Blue Bittern living content- 
edly in company by the margin of a pool in a wood, 
sheltered by trees and aquatic plants. When not fish- 
ing the Bittern would doze on a branch just over the 
water, while its little companion busied itself upon the 
margin of the pool. When disturbed they rose together 
with a strident chorus composed of the harsh notes of 
the Bittern and the clear, pure whistle of the Sand- 
piper. These hermits, self-banished from the world 
and the society of their kind, lived peacefully and con- 
tentedly together in a curiously chosen friendship. 

TO TAN US SOLITARIUS. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America generally to the Plains ; northward to 
the Alaskan Peninsula on the west, and the Mackenzie River oh the east, 
and in winter goes south to Bermuda, West Indies, the Argentine Republic, 
and Peru. Breeding in the northern States and northward of the borders 
of the Union to limits of forest growth. 

Adult in Summer. — Crown and nape, streaked with blackish brown and 
white ; back and scapulars, dark olive brown, speckled with white ; 
wing-coverts, uniform dark brown, larger coverts edged with white ; prima- 
ries, blackish brown ; rump and middle tail-coverts, blackish brown, feath- 



SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 125 

ers spotted on edge with white ; lateral tail-coverts, white, barred with 
black ; middle tail-feathers, bright brown, remainder white, barred with 
black ; throat, pure white ; sides of head, neck, and breast, white, streaked 
with black, and washed with buff on sides of breast ; rest of under parts, 
pure white, barred with black, sometimes indistinctly on the flanks and 
under tail-coverts ; bill, greenish brown ; legs and feet, olive green. 
Length, 8 inches; wing, sX '> cu l men > 1 % '■> tarsus, \% ; middle toe, I. 

Adult in Winter. — Similar to the summer plumage, but with few white 
speckles on the upper parts, and neck and breast indistinctly streaked and 
washed with ash color. 



WESTERN SOLITARY SANDPIPER. 



J\ A ERELY a race of the Solitary Sandpiper, this bird 
* * * is not always easily distinguished from the 
eastern species. Specimens from Arizona seem to be 
intermediate. 



TOT ANUS SOLITARIUS CINNAMOMEUS. 

Habitat. — Pacific Coast eastward to the Plains ; northward in breeding 
seasons to Arctic Circle. " Similar to T.solitarius, but larger; wing grayer, 
the light spots on the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts brownish cinnamon, 
instead of white or buffy whitish ; the sides of the head more whitish, 
especially on the lores; no well-defined loral stripe." — Brewster. 




X A wl-ru SVepy>ar<\ ._._ 



40. Green Sandpiper. 



GREEN SANDPIPER. 

NO record is obtainable that this bird has ever been 
seen alive in North America. It is an Old World 
species, and is included in our fauna on the strength 
of a dealer in England having received a skin among a 
number of American birds from Halifax, Nova Scotia, 
which fact seemed to prove that the specimen was 
killed in that province. This is but negative evidence, 
and hardly of that satisfactory kind as to warrant the 
adoption of the species into the American fauna. It 
represents in the Old World our Solitary Sandpiper, 
and in its general habits the two species closely resem- 
ble one another. 

The present one, however, deposits its eggs in old 
nests in trees, not being very particular whose late 
abode it selects, whether Thrush, Jay, Pigeon, Black- 
bird, or even that of a Squirrel! Perhaps our own 
Sandpiper does the same, which may account for the 
reason that so far authenticated eggs are so rare and 
the nest so difficult to find. In a hole of a broken-down 
tree (Populus tremula), in which the previous year a 
Flycatcher (Muscicapa luctuosa) had built a nest, four 
newly hatched young were seen to scramble out and 
hide in the grass, as related by Mr. Hintz, in the 
Journal fiir Ornikologie, 1862. The eggs are a delicate 
sea green, spotted with pale purplish gray and dark 
brown. 

The Green Sandpiper is found generally through- 
out the Old World from the Arctic regions to the 

127 



128 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Cape of Good Hope and from the British islands to 
China. 

OTANUS OCHROPUS. 

Habitat. — Northern portions of Old World. Accidental in Nova Scotia (?). 

Adult in Summer. — Head and neck, striped with blackish brown and 
white, the brown stripes broadest on the crown ; upper surface and wings, 
dark olive brown, spotted with white ; upper tail-coverts, pure white, mid- 
dle feathers barred with black, remainder with subterminal black bar, and 
broken bar or spots on apical half of outer web ; chin, white ; rest of under 
surface, white, streaked on fore-neck and breast with blackish brown ; bill, 
grayish black ; legs and feet, bluish gray, green at the joints. Length, io 
inches; wing, 5^{; culmen, 1^; tarsus, 1^. 

Adult in Winter. — Resembles the summer dress, but has the head and 
neck grayish brown without spots, and the spots on upper parts obsolete or 
faint ; white stripe from bill over the eye. 








' ; 



V m 






41. TheWillet. 



WILLET. 

IT is difficult to define the exact distribution of this 
species, if we recognize the subspecies, as both are 
found together in various portions of . eastern North 
America, and in winter plumage they are not distin- 
guishable from each other; but as a general tiling, the 
present bird may be regarded as an inhabitant of the 
region east of the Mississippi, although it is often found 
in Texas, and many specimens from Minnesota cannot 
be separated from it. It is next to the Curlews and 
Godwits, the largest of the Snipe family, and exceeds in 
size some of the members belonging to those two 
genera. The Willet is exceedingly noisy, its shrill 
cry of pill-will-willet being heard (when the birds 
are present in numbers on the marshes) at all 
hours of the day and also during the entire night. It 
is shy and restless, very wary, keeping at a most re- 
spectful distance from every object it distrusts, and 
when in exposed places, such as sand-bars or bare 
points running out into rivers or ponds, it allows noth- 
ing to approach. It usually associates with individuals 
of its own species, but may occasionally be seen with 
Yellow-legs, Sanderlings, and sometimes with Gulls. 
It will not decoy very readily, and when it does come 
to the stools, it keeps a sharp eye about it, and should 
it observe anything to excite its suspicion, is off at 
once, and no amount of whistling can induce it to re- 
turn. During the breeding season, however, it seems 
to change its nature and becomes more trustful or less 

129 



130 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

suspicious or more daring, it is difficult to determine 
exactly which. Should one enter the territory which 
has been selected for the nest, the Willets set up the 
most discordant cries, each bird joining in the chorus 
and hastening to the assistance of the one who seems 
to consider himself as the most aggrieved, probably be- 
cause its nest is nearest the object of their dislike. 
The birds fly around in circles, screaming in their very 
best style, frequently swooping down at the intruder, 
and apparently unmindful of all danger to themselves. 
Even if shot at, though the majority may move off for 
a little distance, they are apt to return with renewed 
scoldings and endeavor to drive their unwelcome 
guest from the vicinity of their nests. The semipal- 
mated foot enables the bird to propel itself through or 
over the water with facility, and consequently it is a 
very fair swimmer; and it often may be seen wading 
up to its breast. When the tide is high and the bars 
and marshes are covered, and their food unobtainable 
and hidden from sight, the Willets gather together 
and stand upon some open ground, resting from 
their labors, and apparently reflecting on the uncer- 
tainties and trials of bird-life. But even if some 
may have so yielded to " tired nature's sweet re- 
storer," as to pass the bill beneath the feathers on 
the back and pay no further attention to surrounding 
objects, let not any one think that it is a favorable time 
to approach the little company, for there is always 
"A chield's amang you, taking notes," and as the 
observer draws nearer than is deemed convenient, a 
shrill whistle suddenly sounds upon the air, the birds 
are at once upon the wing, and with loud cries and 
swift flappings depart for some more secure retreat. 
On the Atlantic Coast, although still fairly common, this 



WILLET. 131 

species, like various others of its tribe, is not so numerous 
as in former years in many localities. It breeds, how- 
ever, throughout the countries it frequents, in all suit- 
able places, the nest placed in a tussock of grass near 
water. It is not more than a depression amid the 
material in which it is found. The eggs, four in num- 
ber, greenish white or brownish olive, spotted with 
brown and purple, measure 1.98-2. 12 inches in length 
by 1. 46- 1. 58 in breadth. Crows often pilfer the nest 
and destroy many eggs. It is said that during the 
breeding season this species often alights on trees. I 
have never seen them do this. 

SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America, between the Mississippi and the 
Atlantic Coast. Breeds, from latitude 56 to Texas. In winter south to the 
West Indies and Brazil. Accidental in Europe. 

Adult in Summer. — Head, neck, back, and scapulars, pale grayish brown, 
streaked on head and neck and spotted and blotched on back and scapu- 
lars with black; primaries, black, basal half, white; coverts, grayish brown, 
greater tipped with white, forming a bar across the wings ; rump, grayish 
brown, some of the feathers edged with whitish ; upper tail-coverts, white, 
barred more or less distinctly on the apical third with brownish black ; 
middle tail-feathers, pale brown, barred with brownish ; rest of feathers, 
pale brown, growing lighter to the outermost feather, which is nearly white ; 
under parts, white, striped with blackish brown on sides and front of neck, 
and barred on breast, flanks, and under tail-coverts with dark brown — 
some specimens have a wash of buff on breast and flanks ; bill, black ; 
feet and tarsus, bluish. Length, 16 inches ; wing, 8^ ; culmen, 2j^ ; 
tarsus, 2^ ; middle toe, i 1 /^. Specimen from New Jersey coast. 

Adult in Winter — Above, ashy gray; beneath, purest white, washed 
on front of neck, and sometimes on breast with gray; wings and tail, like 
summer dress. 



WESTERN WILLET. 

THE Western Willet is somewhat larger and grayer, 
* though not always, than the eastern bird. In win- 
ter the two forms cannot be distinguished from each 
other, save possibly by the longer bill of the present 
one, though this is not always reliable. In the summer 
dress specimens of this form are found as dark on the 
back and blotched with black as any of the common 
species, and as both forms are frequently found to- 
gether, the attempt to separate them gives very unsatis- 
factory results. The difference between the birds, such 
as it is, seems to have been first noticed by Cuvier, who 
called this one Speculifera, but gave no description, and 
afterwards Pucheran published a description of Cuvier's 
type, the example being in the gallery of the Paris Mu- 
seum. This bird is very common in the western part 
of the United States and in Texas. On the west coast 
it is one of the most numerous of the Bay Birds, and in 
the vicinity of San Francisco is plentiful throughout 
the year, and possibly may breed there. In their habits, 
mode of nesting, etc., there does not seem to be any 
difference between the two forms. 

SYMPHEMIA SEMIPALMATA SPECULIFERA. 

Habitat. — Western North America to Mississippi Valley. Occasional on 
Atlantic Coast. Breeding range supposed to be from the source of the 
" Saskatchewan to California. 

Ch. Breeding Plumage. Differing from S. semipalmata in being larger, 
with a longer, slenderer bill ; the dark markings above, fewer, finer, and 

132 



WESTERN WILLET, 133 

fainter, on a much paler (grayish drab) ground; those beneath, duller, 
more confused or broken and bordered by pinkish salmon, which often 
spreads over or suffuses the entire under parts, excepting the abdomen. 
Middle tail-feathers either quite immaculate or very faintly barred. Aver- 
age length of wing, 8.1 1 ; tail, 3.29; tarsus, 2.66; culmen, from feathers, 
2.46/ ' — Brewster. 



WANDERING TATTLER. 

THE Wandering Tattler certainly deserves its name, 
* for no species of this family, save those that are 
cosmopolitan, traverse so much sea and shore during the 
changing seasons as this one. Along the vast extent 
of the Pacific Coast it goes from the Equator onward to 
the Aleutian Islands in the far north, and to the interior 
of Alaska, where probably it breeds along the banks of 
the mighty Yukon. It visits also many islands in 
Behring Sea, and then as the great ice-fields close the 
waters of the Arctic regions, and the snow covers all 
the land, away this pretty species flies to the coral 
islands of the southern seas, where, beneath sunny skies 
and balmy breezes, undisturbed, it can roam the shores 
and feed at leisure, no one to " molest or make it afraid." 
They have a preference for rocky shores, upon which 
the waves have flung the weeds floating on the bosom 
of the sea, and feed upon the small crustaceans hidden 
in them. About the middle of May they appear among 
the islands of the Aleutian chain, and at the Seal 
Islands it has been seen in June and July, going farther 
north to breed ; and the places they select for the pur- 
poses of incubation may be well within the Arctic 
Circle. This Tattler is usually solitary, or goes in small 
companies of three or four individuals, is gentle and 
retiring, moves easily and gracefully over the rocks, 
ascending higher and higher as one approaches it 
from the water side. When alarmed it flies but a short 
distance, alighting upon some projecting rock, and 

134 



WANDERING TATTLER. 135 

quietly looks back upon its pursuer. The note is a 
shrill whistle, which is uttered when the bird is startled 
and resembles, as given by Nelson, tu-tu-tu-tu. On 
the lower Yukon it has been seen at Auvik, and also at 
Sitka. On their return journey southward they reach 
St. Michael's Island the beginning of August and 
remain until September, when they depart for milder 
climes. The nest and eggs have not been procured, so 
we have no information regarding them. On the Com- 
mander Islands, where Mr. Stejneger has seen them, he 
says it carries its body like the Spotted Sandpiper, but 
seldom flirts its tail like that bird, nor has it the peculiar 
movement of the head and neck. Its flight is graceful 
and rapid, and its voice loud and harsh, almost scream- 
ing. It comes to the islands in May, and is seen on the 
stony beaches in pairs or very small troops. 

HE TERA CTITIS INC A NUS. 

Habitat. — Pacific Coast from Lower California to Aleutian Islands and 
Norton Sound, Alaska. Also in various islands of the Pacific Ocean, as the 
Sandwich and Eastern Polynesian groups. Breeds probably in Alaska and 
Aleutian Islands. 

Adult in Summer. — Head, neck, and entire upper parts, uniform dark 
plumbeous ; wings, like back ; primaries, dark brown ; shafts, white ; tail, 
dark plumbeous ; superciliary stripe, sides of face, white, narrowly streaked 
with dark plumbeous ; throat, white, spotted with same ; rest of under parts, 
white, barred with dark lead color; bill, brownish black; feet and legs, 
apparently greenish yellow. Length, 8 inches ; wing, 6^ ; culmen, I ]/ 2 ; 
tarsus, I^ ; middle toe, I. 

Autumn Plumage. — Is ashy plumbeous above, the feathers faintly edged 
with white ; under parts, white, the neck, breast, and flanks washed with 
pale lead color. 



THE RUFF. 

/^vN various occasions the Ruff has been obtained in 
^-^ different parts of eastern North America, the 
majority of the specimens probably having been secured 
on Long Island, formerly the ideal resort of the Snipe 
and water fowl ; but they have all, so far as I am aware, 
been in fall or winter plumage, if males, or else in the 
somber livery exhibited by the female. No example, 
I believe, possessing the ruff and in the breeding dress 
of the male has ever been taken within our borders. 
In the Old World it is found from the British islands 
eastward through Russia and southward to the Cape of 
Good Hope, in Africa. The Ruff is polygamous and 
in the breeding season the males collect together to 
fight for the possession of the females; and although 
their conflicts appear very desperate and carried on 
with great energy and determination, the combatants 
receive little damage. Their excitement is intense ; 
they assume the position of game-cocks, with heads 
lowered and ruffs expanded, and strike and claw with 
the feet. Several of these duels may be going on 
at once, and after a short tussle the weaker retires 
and the victor awaits another foe. It is said that the 
same piece of ground (generally an open space, some- 
times slightly elevated) is chosen every year, and the 
battles commence soon after sunrise. When the ruff 
falls out, the male loses all interest in the Reeves, as 
the females are called, and pays no attention to his 

136 




43. The Ruff. 



THE RUFF. 137 

family. The female takes upon herself all the cares of 
nesting, incubation, and rearing the young. The nest 
is placed on the ground in some swamp and lined with 
grass. The eggs, four in number, are greenish gray, 
spotted with reddish brown and pale grayish brown. 
In winter the Ruff goes in large flocks, resorts to the 
banks of mud, generally inland, and feeds on insects, 
and other minute organisms common to such localities. 
In its summer dress the male is a most conspicuous 
object in the landscape, its usually very bright colors 
showing strongly amid the somber hues of the wet 
swampy lands it frequents. 

PAVONCELLA PUGNAX. 

Habitat. — Northern portions of Old World ; occasional in eastern 
North America. Breeding in western portion of Old World from the 
Arctic Sea to the valley of the Danube, and east to valley of the Amoor. 

Adult Male in Spring. — Head, neck, and upper parts, including scapu- 
lars and greater wing- coverts, bright chestnut, barred with black ; ruff, 
elongated feathers of the neck, same colors ; fore-neck, breast, and flanks, 
dark chestnut, barred with black, with white feathers interspersed ; middle 
of abdomen and under tail-coverts, pure white ; lesser wing-coverts, ashy 
brown ; primaries, dark brown, with white shafts ; rump, blackish, mar- 
gined with rufous ; tail, barred with black and rufous ; bill, blackish brown, 
fleshy at base; legs and feet, yellow. Length, 12^ inches; wing, 7 ; 
culmen, 1%; tarsus, 1^; middle toe, 1^. 

The above is a description of one specimen, and will answer only for 
that one, as the variation in color among these birds is endless, no two 
being exactly alike. Some have the ruff black, others black and white, 
chestnut, white, white marked with brown or buff, etc., and it is quite useless 
to try and select any specimen as typical. In winter the male has no ruff. 

Female, Shot on Long Island. — Crown, blackish brown, streaked with 
rufous ; nape and hind-neck, pale brown, indistinctly streaked with darker 
brown; back and wings, black, feathers margined with bright buffy 
brown; rump and upper tail-coverts, same color and markings; tail, 
barred alternately on middle feathers with dark brown and buff, lateral 
feathers grayish brown, with subterminal black bar and huffish brown tip ; 



138 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

sides of head, neck, and breast, pale brown, with brownish speckles, and on 
the breast occasional bars of blackish brown ; middle of throat and rest of 
under parts, white ; bill, black ; feet and legs, greenish in skin ; no ruff 
present. 



«!..'\ 




44. Bartram's Sandpiper. 



BARTRAM'S SANDPIPER. 

HP HIS trim, graceful, and prettily marked species is 
* generally distributed throughout the eastern por- 
tion of North America from the Rocky Mountains to 
the Atlantic Ocean. It is a bird of the plains and up- 
lands, rarely seen near water, into which it seldom, if 
ever, wades, and in its habits is more of a Plover than a 
Sandpiper, frequenting grassy fields and prairie-like 
stretches, hunting with active steps the insects that form 
its chief means of subsistence. It has been obtained in 
British Columbia at Colville Bay by Mr. Lcrd, and also 
on the Yukon, but is apparently only an occasional vis- 
itor to the Pacific Coast. As it is one of the most deli- 
cious of birds for the table, the Upland Plover is eagerly 
sought for by sportsmen and gunners of every rank 
and style, and is known to all throughout our land by 
many names. Beside the one at the head of this article, 
it is also called Field, Highland, Pasture, Plain, Corn- 
field, Grass, and Gray Plover, also Prairie Pigeon in the 
West, and Prairie Snipe, Quaily on the Assiniboin, and 
Papabote in Louisiana. On the Atlantic Coast, while 
seen at times in considerable numbers, it is never met 
with in the great flocks observed in the Western States, 
like Kansas and southwards, more especially in Texas, 
where it congregates sometimes in thousands. In the 
Middle States of the seaboard it is a wary bird, except 
perhaps during the breeding season, standing erect in 
the grassy plains on which it loves to dwell, and regard- 
ing with watchful eye any intruder upon its ground 

139 



140 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

It is almost impossible to approach near to them, if the 
sportsman is on foot, unless the land be hilly, but 
they seem to regard a wagon as of no consequence, and 
by going in ever-diminishing circles, the gunner can be 
driven close to the birds, who may have been watching 
his vehicle all the time. They do not appear to asso- 
ciate their two-footed enemy and the dreadfully noisy 
" black stick" he carries, with the four-footed animal 
dragging his load over the grass. Where, however, it 
is not much hunted, as in some of the less peopled 
localities in the West, or during the breeding season, 
Bar tram's Plover is very tame and gentle, sometimes 
barely moving out of the way for either man or vehicle. 
It associates often at this time with the Golden Plov- 
er, and others of the family found in similar localities, 
and may be seen scattered in groups or singly over 
the prairies. It walks well and gracefully, and when 
standing erect, it watches some suspicious object, with 
its slender neck stretched to its full extent and topped 
by the well-shaped head, the bird seems much taller 
than it really is. 

The note of the Upland Plover is a loud, long yet 
soft whistle, and can be heard for a considerable dis- 
tance. As one is walking over the grassy plain, there 
falls upon his ear this distinct cry, coming from some 
unknown locality. He stops and listens, and again 
clear and soft the note is borne to him, this time dis- 
tinguished as from above. He looks up and sees noth- 
ing but the interminable blue, spread all around. But 
soon, as he continues gazing, a tiny speck is visible that 
floats motionless along, and from time to time, from 
out the very heavens there descends the soft note of 
the Plover's voice. Descrying some suitable ground, 
the bird begins to lower, and on fixed pinions often at 



BAR TRAM' S SANDPIPER. 141 

an acute angle, it sails downwards and alights some- 
times on the ground or occasionally on a fence or stake. 
It stands erect and motionless, with its wings raised 
high above the back, exhibiting the beautiful markings 
to the greatest advantage, and then slowly folds them 
into their proper place. If on the ground, it then 
moves forward slowly and deliberately, nodding at 
every step as if in emphatic approval of its surround- 
ings and its sagacity in selecting so suitable a spot, 
and pays its attention to such insects as may catch the 
eye, uttering at times a peculiarly mournful sound, 
quite different from its usual flute-like cry, to be an- 
swered possibly from out the heavens above by some 
comrade not yet distinguishable to the naked eye. 
The flight of the Upland Plover is well sustained and 
swift, and often performed (as will be imagined from 
the above) at a great height, indeed so lofty at times 
that its voice alone indicates its presence, the bird 
being fairly out of sight. It will alight indiscriminately 
on the ground, fence, telegraph pole, or, as has been 
noticed, even on a barn. When mated the pair keep 
close company, seeking food together, and are rarely 
separated by any distance. The nest is placed on the 
plain or prairie in some open spot, frequently near some 
water. It is not much of a structure, just a little grass 
in a depression of the ground; but almost impossible to 
find at any time, even when the bird is on the eggs, so 
admirably does her plumage harmonize with that of her 
surroundings. The eggs, four in number, are clay 
color, spotted all over with dark brown, and purplish 
gray. They are very large for the size of the bird, 
measuring on an average about i^ by 1% inches. In 
June the young appear, curious, puffy, overbalanced lit- 
tle creatures, stumbling about the prairie, and are objects 



i42 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

of great solicitude to the anxious mother. Should any 
one approach near her charge, all the artifices known 
in birdom are practiced to lure the intruder away, 
while the clumsy little downy balls at the first cry of 
alarm strive to hide themselves away in the grass. At 
this time the old bird is perfectly fearless, and will 
fly close to one, trying her utmost, poor defenceless 
creature, to drive and frighten away the object of all 
her fears. 

In certain places on the prairie sometimes quite a 
number of these birds with their young will gather 
together, and then if one draws near, the scene above 
described will be repeated on a larger scale, the air 
being filled with flying scolding birds, swooping in all 
directions and dinning one's ears with their shrill, loud 
cries. In the beginning of August this species fre- 
quently deserts the prairie and resorts to the plowed 
land, and is then very wild and difficult of approach. 
Its food is chiefly insects, and the birds eat a great 
many grasshoppers. The species will also swallow 
various berries. In September old and young move 
southward, sometimes in large flocks. On the pampas 
of the Argentine Republic, its winter home, it begins 
to arrive in September and is said to scatter, with a 
very even distribution, over an area 50,000 square 
miles in extent. So well are the birds distributed 
over the pampas, it has been imagined, strange as it 
may seem, that each one occupies the same range it did 
the year before, if happily it may have lived to return. 
It is called there Chorlo solo or Batitii, and is very shy, 
hiding in the grass or crouching close to the ground 
like a snipe. It remains on these vast plains until 
March; but the return journey to its far northern 
breeding place is commenced in February, and for two 



BAR TRAM'S SANDPIPER. 143 

months, high in the air, day and night, is heard the 
flute-like cry of this Sandpiper as in serried ranks it 
moves onward to the land where the buds are begin- 
ning to burst and all nature is rousing herself from the 
winter's sleep. 

BARTRAMIA LONGICAUDA. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America. In the north it goes to Nova Scotia 
and the valley of the Yukon, breeding in its northern range ; south in 
winter to Argentine Republic and Peru. Accidental in Europe and 
Australia. 

Adult. — Crown, nape, back, and scapulars, black, the feathers margined 
with bright buff; hind-neck, bright buff, streaked with dark brown ; lesser 
wing-coverts, pale brown, barred with black and bright buff; greater coverts, 
dark brown, barred with white on inner web and margined and tipped 
with same ; primaries, dark brown, margined with pale brown or white ; 
lower back, rump, and central tail-coverts, black ; lateral coverts, black at 
base, rest buff, barred with black and white ; middle tail-feathers, slatey 
gray, barred with black ; remainder, buff, with subterminal bar and ante- 
rior spots of black and tipped with white ; sides of head and neck, bright 
buff, streaked with dark brown; throat, breast, and entire under parts, 
creamy buff, with irregular dark-brown bars on breast and flanks, some on 
lower part of breast, arrow-headed in shape ; bill, brownish black, yellow- 
ish at base; feet and legs, yellowish. Length, 12 inches; wing, 6%; 
culmen, 1^ ; tarsus, 2; middle toe, 1. 



BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 

HP HE Buff-breasted Sandpiper is more nearly related 
* to the Upland Plover than to any other member of 
this family. In its habits it resembles the larger species, 
and like that bird prefers fields and grassy plains rather 
than the wet and swampy lands frequented by Other 
Sandpipers. It is not common on the eastern coast, 
but seems to be more an inhabitant of the interior. At 
the same time, small flocks of about half a dozen are 
occasionally met with in various parts of the Atlantic 
seaboard. It is usually very gentle, and pays but little 
attention to any one who may be near, watching the 
active creature as it runs about the shore intent only 
upon securing a meal. It goes far to the north, breeds 
at Point Barrow in the Alaskan Peninsula, and has been 
seen on the Yukon at Nulato, and also is very com- 
mon in the Anderson River region, where it also breeds. 
According to Murdoch this species arrives at Point 
Barrow by the middle of June, and the birds spread 
themselves over the dry parts of the tundra. During 
the breeding season they indulge in curious movements, 
one of which is to walk about with one wing stretched 
out to its fullest extent and held high in the air. Two 
will spar like fighting-cocks, then tower for about thirty 
feet with hanging legs. Sometimes one will stretch 
himself to his full height, spread his wings forward and 
puff out his throat, at the same time making a clucking 
noise, while others stand around and admire him. 
They are silent birds at all times, and the breeding sea- 

144 







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45. Buff-breasted Sandpiper. 



BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 145 

son over, they quietly disappear, never assembling in 
flocks, and by the beginning of August all have gone 
south. The nest is, like those of most waders, merely 
a depression in the ground, lined with a little moss, and 
the usual complement of four eggs is deposited with the 
small ends down. They are ashy or olive drab, 
blotched with various shades of brown, and stone-gray 
underlying markings, smaller at the pointed, larger 
and more confluent at the rounded, end. When fired 
at, this Sandpiper will fly but a short distance, per- 
forming a half circle along the shore, and alight 
again near to the place from which it started, or if 
on the plain, drop down again at a little distance and 
run about seeking for insects without exhibiting any 
signs of alarm. Its note is low and weak, merely a tweet 
once or twice repeated. In winter it goes as far south 
as the Argentine Republic, which it reaches in October, 
and lives on the pampas in small companies, associating 
with the Golden Plover and other migratory species. 
It may go to Patagonia. In May flocks of two to five 
hundred proceed north, the birds flying low and con- 
tinuing to pass at intervals in certain localities for sev- 
eral days. 

TRYNGITES SUBRUFICOLLIS. 

Habitat. — North America, breeding in Alaska and British America. 
South in winter to Uruguay and Peru ; occasional in Europe. 

Adult. — Entire upper parts, pale clay buff, every feather with the center 
black ; inner secondaries, lustrous blackish brown, margined with brownish 
buff; primaries, dark brown, blackish towards the tip and edged with white, 
and white on the outer edge of the inner webs, mottled with black ; larger 
under wing-coverts, marbled with black and white and subterminal black 
bar and white tips ; middle tail-feathers, dark brown, with a greenish tinge, 
remainder pale brown, with a subterminal black bar and tipped with buffy 
white ; entire under parts, pale buff, almost white on abdomen ; feathers 



146 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

with white tips, and those on sides of the breast with black central spots ; 
bill, greenish black; legs and feet, yellowish green. Length, 7^ inches; 
w i n g> 5/4 5 culmen, ^ ; tarsus, l 1 /. ; middle toe, 7/ & . 

The marbling on inner web of the primaries varies considerably in size, 
those specimens from California having it apparently much coarser, but I 
have not a sufficient series at hand to determine whether or not it is constant. 



*? 




46. Spotted Sandpiper. 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 

ONE of our best known and familiar birds, the Spot- 
ted Sandpiper, is met with on the shores and banks 
of nearly all our lakes and rivers, which it enlivens with 
its sprightly presence, and draws attention to itself by 
its soft note and the curious balancing of the body as it 
stands upon a stone near the water, or even when walk- 
ing sedately along the topmost rail of a fence. It is a 
very common species, and is distributed generally 
throughout North America from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific Oceans, and breeds wherever it is met with in 
the springtime. It arrives in April from the far south- 
ern lands where it has passed the winter, and soon 
commences the courtship preparatory to the nesting 
season. The " Tilt-up," or "Peet-weet," as it is also 
called, does not go in flocks of any size, but is rather 
solitary in its disposition, an individual -or pair seem- 
ing to appropriate a certain amount of the shore, where 
they dwell contentedly, only flying, when disturbed, 
higher up or lower down the river, as the case may 
be, and then if any Tiltup is on the particular spot 
near where they desire to alight, they move on to 
some other part of the bank or beach. The flight is 
rapid, performed with quick, stiff beats of the wings, 
and the bird utters frequently its cry of peet-weet as it 
passes along. It is a most comical species to watch 
upon the shore. When it alights, after its short flight, 
it may stand for an instant motionless contemplating 
its surroundings, and then makes a profound bow, in- 

147 



148 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

clining both head and neck, at the same time elevating 
its hindquarters in a seeming derogatory manner, very 
disrespectful to the onlookers, and as if to emphasize 
the fact that the motion was intended for each and all 
of those present, it deliberately moves around on its 
feet, presenting head . and tail alternately to first one 
point of the compass and then to another. It is usually 
silent during this performance, its importance and 
solemnity doubtless precluding any such thing as idle 
remarks. So long as it remains upon the shore these 
depressions and elevations of alternate ends occur fre- 
quently, and sometimes the bird stops even when in 
chase of some elusive insect to repeat this mark of its 
distinguished consideration for its observer. The nest, 
lightly built of straws and grasses, is placed in open 
spots, either along the borders of streams or ponds, or 
in fields among the stubble. The eggs are light drab, 
or cream color, spotted with purplish brown or other 
shades of the latter color, the spots becoming blotches 
and confluent at the larger end. The young run as 
soon as hatched, and are great adepts at hiding on the 
approach of danger. When alarmed the mother shows 
great excitement, and the frequency and violence of the 
movement behind and before, alread}^ remarked upon, is 
extraordinary, as she runs about with plaintive cries of 
pee-weet-weet, and with outspread wings strives to draw 
attention to herself. The " Teeter Snipe " rarely flies 
any distance in a straight line, generally on a curve, 
sometimes in a zigzag course, and during the nesting 
season the male utters what may be really called a song. 
As he flies over the surface of the water, he will suddenly 
check his course and rise upwards for a short space 
on quivering wings, pouring out rapidly repeated peet- 
weets in an earnest, trilling stave of snipe music, as if 



SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 149 

his joy in life and appreciation of his present surround- 
ings and prospects were altogether too much for his 
feelings, and greater than his small body could possibly 
contain. Then, having relieved his surcharged breast 
by these liquid notes, he continues his course to the 
nearest beach or stone and gravely bows his approval of 
the whole matter. When passing each other on the 
wing the Peetweets almost always exchange salutations 
and personal remarks in their cheerful, whistling notes, 
keeping up the conversation often after considerable 
distance has intervened between the travelers. This 
species is as much at home upon a fence-rail, hay-stack, 
or stake as on the ground, and frequently alights on one 
of these to survey its surroundings. The female with 
young seems to select such a place in order more readily 
to perceive approaching danger from a distance, and 
also probably as more convenient to keep an eye upon 
her lively, active little downy offspring, as they scram- 
ble over the ground chasing the various insects that 
attract their eyes. In the Rocky Mountains this 
species is found at high elevations, even up to the limit 
of timber, and is as much at home amid such lofty 
heights as at the level of the sea. It is an in- 
teresting, harmless creature, not very suitable for 
the table (although many are shot for food), and in its 
demure, attractive dress of quiet colors, pretty ways, 
and soft voice, it is one of the most pleasing objects 
seen along the borders of our rivers in the summer 
time. 

ACTITIS MACULARIA. 

Habitat. — North and South America to Brazil; less common on Pacific 
Coast. Breeding throughout temperate North America. Occasional in 
Europe. 

Adult. — Entire upper parts, lustrous ashy green, spotted irregularly with 



150 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

brownish black ; the neck with less greenish lustre and more of an ashen 
hue ; white stripe over the eye, reaching to the nape ; entire under parts, 
pure white, with numerous brownish black markings over all the surface, 
the spots smallest on the throat; primaries, dark brown, white on basal 
portion of inner web ; tail, ashy green, remainder with subterminal blackish 
bar, outer with dusky and white transverse spots, and all except central pair 
tipped with white ; bill has edge of maxilla and mandible yellow, re- 
maining portion black ; legs and feet, grayish olive. Length, 7 ^ inches; 
wing, 4 ; culmen, 1 ; tarsus, I ; middle toe, fy. 




TSkc^cu-A^ 



47. Long-billed Curlew. 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 

FROM British North America to the Gulf, and from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Long-billed Curlew 
is met with generally, although in not such large num- 
bers in the Eastern States, where in many localities its 
appearance is by no means regular. It is more abun- 
dant in the South, and I have met with large flocks in 
Eastern Florida. It is the largest of the waders, and is 
always a conspicuous feature of the locality it fre- 
quents, presenting a rather curious appearance with its 
long curved bill of such unusual proportions. Unlike 
the other species of the same genus, the " Sickle-bill" 
does not migrate far to the north, but remains in the 
temperate regions of the continent, breeding in quite 
low latitudes. It is found throughout the Mississippi 
valley, and is common on many of the vast grassy 
plains of the West, frequenting both dry and wet local- 
ities, breeding in nearly all its places of resort. The 
flight is strong and well sustained, the members of the 
flock proceeding, after the manner of geese, in a trian- 
gular order, some old bird at the apex, heading the pro- 
cession, and uttering at intervals a hoarse cry, under- 
stood and obeyed by those following. They readily 
respond to an imitation of their call, and wheel to the 
decoys, approaching on widespread motionless wings, 
each bird presenting so large and steady a mark that 
there is no excuse for the sportsman to miss his aim. 
No species among the waders is more sympathetic, or 
evinces greater solicitude for its companions if any are 

151 



152 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

in distress, than this Curlew. Once when shooting in 
Florida, in the vicinity of St. Augustine, a large flock 
of these birds passed overhead, and I brought down 
some by two shots from my gun. Although naturally 
much alarmed, the survivors immediately returned to 
their wounded companions, which were calling aloud as 
they lay upon the marsh, flying over and around them, 
with hanging legs, and uttering answering notes of 
sympathy, and approaching nearer and nearer until they 
were not many feet above the ground. Repeated dis- 
charges of my gun failed for a time to drive the un- 
wounded birds from the vicinity, but as each individual 
fell from their ranks, the rest would swoop towards it, 
and with much crying seem to urge it to rise and fol- 
low them. The air was full of rapid-flying circling 
birds, each one screaming its best, and it was not until 
a considerable number had fallen that the remainder, 
convinced at length of the fruitlessness of their efforts, 
and the danger present to themselves, departed for a 
more secure locality. Some of the specimens obtained 
at this time were very large, with rather uncommonly 
long bills. The flesh was rank and the bodies gave out 
an ''unpleasant fish-like smell." 

Although coming so readily to decoys, this Curlew is 
a shy and wary bird, very watchful when standing on 
the open plains, and permits no one to approach near 
it, easily taking alarm and flying off with loud cries. 
It has many names in different parts of the United 
States, such as Hen or Buzzard Curlew, Smoker, Sabre- 
bill, and in the south, Spanish Curlew, and in parts of 
the New Jersey coast, Mowyer. While the Sickle-bill 
is a dweller of the marshes, it by no means confines 
itself to them, but often visits dry sections of the coun- 
try. The food consists of various small shellfish, 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 153 

worms, insects of different kinds, and berries. The 
flesh is more palatable when the birds frequent the in- 
terior, especially when its supply of food is mainly that 
of berries. The nest is merely a depression in the 
ground lined with a few grasses, and the eggs, usually 
four in number, are shaped something like that of a 
common fowl, clay-colored, with olive or buff shades, 
spotted with sepia or chocolate, the markings small and 
regularly distributed. They resemble the egg of the 
Willet somewhat. During the breeding season it is 
very solicitous of its eggs, or young, and its loud, harsh 
cry, when any one invades the territory where its family 
affairs are progressing, can be heard for a long dis- 
tance. In Manitoba this species is rare, and on the 
Pacific Coast it has not been found north of Vancouver 
Island. Its southern range is Central America and 
some of the West India islands, but I know no record 
of its occurrence in South America. On Long Island 
it appears after the breeding season, apparently migrat- 
ing northward for a brief period. 



NUMENIUS LONGIROSTRIS. 

Habitat. — North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the temper- 
ate regions, going south in winter *o Cuba, Jamaica, and Central America. 
Breeds in the interior of its northern range and in the South Atlantic 
States. 

Adult. — Entire upper parts, pale rufous, most reddish on the back and 
scapulars, each feather with transverse confluent black bands, inclined to 
streaks on crown and neck ; primaries and secondaries, cinnamon, with 
blackish bars ; outer webs of primaries, blackish brown ; wing-coverts, 
paler than back, blackish brown in the center, variegated on rest of feathers 
with rufous and ashy white ; upper tail-coverts, rufous, barred with blackish 
brown, whitish near the ends of the feathers; tail, rufous, washed with ash 
and crossed with blackish-brown bars ; throat, buffy white ; rest of under 
parts, buff; rufous on the flanks; the neck streaked, and flanks barred with 



154 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

brownish black ; bill, black, fleshy brown on basal half of mandible ; legs 
and feet, grayish brown. Length, about 2 feet ; wing, io inches ; culmen, 
8, varying greatly ; tarsus on top, 2%.. 

Individuals vary greatly in the depth of the rufous coloring of their plum- 
age, some being quite pale and others dark cinnamon, and there is 
also great difference in the length of the bills, some being moderate in 
this respect, while occasionally an individual is met with having one enor- 
mously lengthened. Both color of plumage and length of bill are evidently 
purely individual variations. 




48. Hudsonian Curlew. 



HUDSONIAN CURLEW. 

UNLIKE its larger relative, the Long-billed Curlew, 
the present species migrates in the different sea- 
sons to the Arctic Sea on the north, and to the plains 
of Patagonia on the south, traversing the entire length 
and breadth of the continents of North and South 
America. In some localites it is at times quite numer- 
ous, but I have never seen it as abundant as the Sickle- 
bill, and have regarded it, at least on our eastern 
seaboard, as not a very common bird. It frequents 
the marshes and muddy flats, associating with the 
Willet and Godwit, and feeds on worms and various 
shellfish. 

The Jack Curlew, as it is generally known, breeds in 
the far north in the lands bordering the Arctic Sea, on 
the Barren Grounds in the Anderson River region, and 
in the northwest, on the open country about the shores 
of the Polar Sea. In the island of St. Michael's they 
are common about the beginning of June, but always 
shy. They do not remain there long, but pass on still 
farther north, returning again, the season of reproduc- 
tion ended, about the ist of August, remaining through- 
out the month, feeding on blue and crow-berries, until 
they become very fat and heavy. In September it 
moves southward on its long journey to the confines of 
South America, migrating along the Alaskan coast by 
way of Sitka and the Pacific shores of the United 
States. Many also pass through the valley of the Mis- 
sissippi, but I consider it the least common of our Cur- 



156 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

lews in the United States. About the mouth of the 
Yukon in spring it is not rare, and may often be seen 
standing on one leg on some stump or log. In the 
Anderson River region where MacFarlane observed it 
breeding, the nest was as usual a mere depression in the 
ground lined with a few withered leaves placed near 
small lakes or streams. The eggs, four in number, were 
a creamy drab, spotted with slaty brown, but varying 
considerably both in ground color and markings, and 
were larger than those of the Eskimo Curlew (the next 
species), measuring from 2.21 to 2.40 inches in length 
by from 1.57 to 1.65 in breadth. The nests from 
which these eggs were taken were found in about 70 
north latitude. 

This species bears many names among the gunners 
in various parts of our country, among which I may 
cite Short-bill Curlew, Crooked-bill Marlin, Striped- 
head, American Whimbrel, Horse-foot Marlin, and 
Jack. On the coasts of New Jersey and West Vir- 
ginia it used to be very abundant, but of late years, 
as is the case with the rest of the waders which for- 
merly enlivened our coasts with their graceful forms 
and attractive dress, these birds appear in constantly 
decreasing numbers. 

N UMENI US H UD SONIC US. 

Habitat. — North and South America and West Indies. From the Arctic 
regions to Patagonia in winter. Breeding range from Greenland to Alaska. 

Adult. — Crown, blackish brown, with a central stripe of buff; dark- 
brown stripe from bill through eye to ear-coverts ; superciliary stripe, pale 
buff; neck, pale buff, streaked with blackish brown ; upper parts, sooty 
brown, spotted with whitish buff; wing-coverts, similar but lighter ; rump 
and upper tail-coverts, dark brown, spotted with dark buff, slightly rufous ; 
tail, rufous, barred with dark brown ; primaries, blackish brown, shafts 
white on first two ; sides of head, neck, and entire under parts, light buff, 



HUD SON IAN CURLEW, 157 

marked with narrow streaks on sides of head, neck, and breast, and barred 
on flanks, with dark brown ; bill, brownish black, flesh color at base of 
mandible; feet and legs, black. Length, about 17 inches ; wing, 9 ; oil- 
men, y/ 2 ; tarsus, 2^ ; middle toe, 1 }/$. 



ESKIMO CURLEW. 

T N the Mississippi Valley this species is the most abun- 
* dant of the Curlews, and in immense numbers scat- 
ters over the prairie in every direction, associating with 
other species of its tribe which frequent similar local- 
ities, such as Bartram's Sandpiper, Golden Plover, 
etc. When feeding about in such large flocks, they 
keep up a constant low chattering noise, as if indulg- 
ing in an uninterrupted flow of conversation. On the 
Atlantic Coast it does not appear in such great flocks, 
so far as I am aware, and although in certain portions of 
the eastern shore it is more numerous than the Hudson- 
ian Curlew, it is not usually very abundant. It fre- 
quents the open flats in the vicinity of the seashore, 
feeds on insects, worms, etc., and is a shy bird, and in 
the autumn becomes very fat and its flesh is highly 
esteemed. It is known as Doe Bird, Futes, Small Cur- 
lew, etc. It flies with great rapidity, is easily alarmed 
and difficult to approach, unless when feeding quietly 
among other waders, but is more readily shot when flying 
to and from its feeding grounds, when if one stations 
himself on their route, as they generally pass at no great 
height, many can be secured. It passes north in May 
and returns along the eastern coast in August, not mak- 
ing a lengthy stay in any locality, but going rapidly on 
to its winter home in the far southern parts of South 
America. It generally arrives from the north in 
August after an easterly storm, but is irregular in its 
movements, and in some seasons is much more abundant 

158 



ESKIMO CURLEW. 159 

than in others. In Labrador this Curlew is seen in 
flocks of various sizes ; sometimes several thousand of 
the birds are gathered together, and their flight is 
swiftly performed by regular beat of the wings, and 
they often execute many beautiful evolutions, fre- 
quently massing together in compact ranks. On alight- 
ing the wings are raised over the back, as is the habit 
of many Snipes and Plovers, and then folded carefully 
and with deliberation into the accustomed place. The 
note is a soft, clear whistle, and the birds come readily to 
the gunner (if he can imitate their call cleverly), dropping 
the legs and curving the wings as they sail unsuspectingly 
to the decoys. They feed on grasshoppers, berries of 
various kinds, and small snails which they detach from 
the rocks. In Northern Alaska the Eskimo Curlew is 
abundant along the coasts of Behring Sea and Kotzebue 
Sound. It has been obtained on the Yukon and at Point 
Barrow. They go in flocks of from twenty to one 
hundred and fifty, and pass the island of St. Michael's 
in May to the breeding grounds within the Arctic 
Circle. Nelson says that small flocks of this Curlew 
will follow a single Hudsonian Curlew all over the coun- 
try in the same manner as smaller species of Snipe will 
follow one of a larger kind, and he imagines it is on ac- 
count of their dependence on the superior watchfulness 
of the larger bird, and a greater degree of protection 
thereby secured. On the Barren Grounds up to the 
Arctic Sea this Curlew breeds, and MacFarlane found 
the nest in the Anderson River region. It was 
merely the usual depression in the ground, lined with 
a few decayed leaves and dried grass. The eggs vary 
in dimensions and coloration, being either green, gray, 
or brown, marked with different shades of sepia in 
various size spots, and measure on an average from 



160 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

2.04 by 1.43 inches. This Curlew, like its larger rela- 
tives, is very sympathetic in its disposition, and lingers 
around the place where its companions have fallen vic- 
tims to the sportsman's wiles, often paying with its life 
for the utter disregard shown for its own preservation. 
In the Argentine Republic it arrives on its long journey 
from the extreme north in September and lingers until 
late in February, dwelling on the pampas in company 
with its friends, the Golden and Upland Plovers. 

NUMENIUS BORE A LIS. 

Habitat. — North America, migrating in winter to extreme point of South 
America. Breeding in the Arctic regions from Greenland to Behring 
Straits. Accidental in Great Britain. 

Adult. — Closely resembles the Hudsonian Curlew, but is darker upon the 
back, and is much smaller in size; top of head, black, streaked with buff; 
black line from bill through eye to ear-coverts ; rest of head and entire 
neck, buff, streaked with blackish brown ; upper parts of body and wings, 
blackish brown, feathers margined with buff, lighter on wing-coverts ; pri- 
maries, dark brown ; upper tail-coverts, like the back, but showing more buff; 
tail, grayish brown, barred with dark brown ; throat, buffy white ; breast 
and rest of under parts, buff, streaked on breast and barred on flanks with 
blackish brown ; bill, brownish black ; base of mandible, flesh color ; legs, 
greenish brown. Length, 13^ inches; wing, 8; culmen, 3; tarsus, 2. 




O 

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BRISTLY-THIGHED CURLEW. 

A NATIVE of various islands in the Pacific Ocean, 
^* only two specimens of this Curlew have been 
taken on our Western Coast, one on St. Michael's 
Island and the other on Kadiak Island, Alaska. The 
first-mentioned individual, which was the second one 
procured, was killed by Nelson as it stood near where 
he was shooting Black Brant. There were two to- 
gether, and they uttered a loud whistle similar to the 
Hudsonian Curlew. He shot both, but one, unfortu- 
nately, was lost in the grass where it fell. Its appearance 
on any part of our shores can only be regarded as purely 
accidental, its native islands lying several thousand 
miles from our western coast. The species is peculiar 
in having the shaft of the thigh feathers extended be- 
yond the webs and resembling bristles. The examples 
enumerated are all that have been obtained within our 
limits, so far as I am aware. 

NUMENIUS TAHITIENSIS. 

Habitat. — Islands of the Pacific. Occasional in Alaska. 

Adult. — Top of head, sooty brown, with central stripe of buff; a black- 
ish streak from bill through eye ; rest of head and neck, buff, streaked with 
dark brown ; superciliaries, buffy white, streaked with brown and reaching 
to nape; back and scapulars, chocolate brown, with large spots of buff; 
wing-coverts, like scapulars, but paler ; rump, similar to back ; upper tail- 
coverts and tail, reddish buff, the latter barred with dark brown, the 
coverts sometimes marked with brown; throat and under parts, buff ; the 
neck and breast streaked, and flanks barred, with dark brown ; shafts of 
tibial and femoral feathers lengthened like bristles ; bill, horn black ; base 
of mandible, dull flesh color ; feet and legs, livid blue ; iris, hazel. Length, 
about 17 inches : wing, 10^ ; tarsus, 2 1 /^ ; culmen, 3^. 



161 



THE WHIMBREL. 

C SSENTIALLY an Old World species, this Curlew is 
■■— ' only admitted into our fauna from the fact that it 
occurs occasionally in Greenland. In its habits and 
nesting it bears a close resemblance to other species of 
Curlew. 

N UMENI US PHsE OP US. 

Habitat. — Northern parts of Old World. Occasional in Greenland. 

Adult. — Top of head, sooty brown, with a central stripe of whitish buff; 
dark-brown stripe from bill through the eye ; superciliary stripe, extending 
to the nape, buffy white streaked with brown; neck, whitish, streaked 
with dark brown ; back and scapulars dark brown, feathers margined with 
grayish ; primaries, blackish brown ; rump, white ; upper tail-coverts, 
white, barred with dark brown ; tail, grayish brown, central pair darkest, 
barred with dark brown and tipped with white ; throat and entire under parts, 
white, neck and breast streaked with dark brown, flanks and under tail-cov- 
erts barred with the same ; bill, black : base of mandible, pale brown ; legs 
and feet, grayish blue. . Lengtn, 17 inches; culmen, 3; wing, 9% > tar ~ 
sus, 2 l A. 



162 







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51. The Whimbrel. 




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THE LAPWING. 

NAMED from its flapping mode of flying — also 
sometimes called, from its cry, the Peewit — the 
Lapwing is one of the most common and familiar species 
of the Old World in its northern regions. It ranges from 
the British islands to Japan, and in 'winter goes south 
into Northern Africa. During the breeding season the 
male has a curious habit of flying near the nest and 
throwing himself about in the air, as if his senses had 
left him, uttering all the time a peculiar wailing cry. 
The eggs, always four, are brownish olive, spotted 
and blotched with purplish and blackish brown. The 
nest is the usual hollow in the ground, sometimes bare, 
or lined with leaves and small sticks. 

The Lapwing is an occasional visitant to Greenland, 
and has been taken on Long Island near New York. 
Dall mentions the capture of what he supposed to be this 
species (he did not see the specimen) on one of the 
small islands in Norton Sound, Alaska, off the mouth 
of Golsova River. These are its only claims to admis- 
sion in our fauna. 

VA NELL US VA NELL US. 

Habitat. — Northern parts of Old World. Occasional in Greenland, 
Long Island, New York, and on the islands in Norton Sound, Alaska. 

Adult Male in Spring. — Forehead, lores, top of head, throat, and breast, 
velvety black, with a purplish lustre ; feathers of occiput elongated into a 
crest, curving upwards, also velvety black ; nape, side of face, and side of 
neck, white, marked with black streaks behind the eyes ; back, scapulars, 
and inner secondaries, metallic green, blotched with bright purple ; wing- 
coverts, metallic purplish violet ; primaries, purplish black, the three first 

163 



164 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

terminating in white; rump, metallic green, with blue reflections; upper 
tail-coverts, chestnut red ; tail, white on basal half, rest black, this decreas- 
ing towards the outer feather, which is sometimes altogether white, and the 
tips of black feathers white ; under parts below the breast, white ; under 
tail-coverts, rufous ; bill, black ; legs and feet, dull lake red. Length, 1 3 
inches ; culmen, I ; wing, 9 ; tarsus, 2. 

Female. — Like the male, but with the throat white, crest shorter, and 
the upper parts generally duller in color. 

Male in Winter. — Differs from the summer dress, in having a white 
throat, the black pectoral band tipped on some feathers with white, and 
also some on the back tipped with buff. 




53 Black-bellied Plover. 



BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 

IN some of its stages of plumage the Black-bellied 
Plover, or Black-breast, is frequently confounded 
with the next species, or European Golden Plover, but 
can easily be distinguished at all ages by having the 
axillary plumes (the long feathers growing from the 
arm-pit and seen underneath the wing,) black, whereas 
in the other species these are white. This species 
passes through the United States during migration, 
going northward to its breeding ground in the month 
of May and returning in August. They are more 
numerous along the seacoasts than in the interior, al- 
though at times in Manitoba, and some of the States in 
the Mississippi Valley, they appear in large numbers, as 
mentioned by Mr. Cooke, when he once observed them 
congregated in thousands on the Platte River in Ne- 
braska. The young are so different from the adults in 
plumage that many look upon them as belonging to 
another species, and they are called Bull-headed Plover, 
or Beetle-headed Plover. On the Pacific Coast, in the 
Northwest, this bird is a rare visitor at Point Bar- 
row, but is rather common on the Yukon, and also 
appears at Sitka during the migration. About the end 
of August they reach the mouth of the Columbia River, 
and later on the California Coast, and are abundant in 
the northern part, more so than in the southern end of 
that State. The Gray Plover, (the name by which its rel- 
ative is usually known in Europe, where it is also called, 
especially in the British islands, Sea-cock, and Sea, 

165 



1 66 NOR TH A ME RICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

Strand, Mud, Stone, and Rock Plover,) is a very hand- 
some bird when arrayed in its summer plumage, its 
showy white back, dotted with black, affording a strong 
contrast to the jet black of the under surface. It is not, 
however, so well known to the majority of persons in 
that dress, the winter robe, or one similar to it borne 
by the young, being most familiar. Along the coast 
this Plover frequents the salt marshes and flats left 
bare by the tide, as well as the shores of ponds, feed- 
ing upon insects and small shellfish, and in such 
places its flesh begets a fishy or sedgy flavor; but on 
the uplands, where it feeds on berries, grasshoppers, 
and such like objects, it is more palatable. In the 
spring it is rather a shy bird and does not come readily 
to the decoys, but in the autumn on its return, when 
it goes in larger flocks, it is tame, especially if there 
are many young birds associated with the old ones, 
and then decoys readily and affords excellent sport. 
It is a beautiful sight to witness a flock come to the 
decoys, sailing steadily along on motionless decurved 
wings, the birds lisp their gentle note of welcome or in- 
quiry to the wooden representatives scattered about the 
meadow, until, hovering above them for a moment with 
hanging legs preparatory to alighting among their sup- 
posed .fellows, the deadly discharge rings out from the 
gun of the concealed sportsman, and the ground is 
strewn with hapless victims, while the survivors, star- 
tled, spring upwards, and with rapid wing-beats hastily 
leave the dangerous spot. The Black-breasted Plover 
breeds in high northern latitudes, and its nest and eggs 
have been found by several enterprising travelers in 
those unattractive regions. The nest is but a depres- 
sion lined with grass or moss, and the eggs, usually 
four in number, vary greatly in color, from brown to a 



BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 167 

greenish drab, spotted and blotched with rufous brown 
distributed generally over the entire shell. They are 
pyriform in shape, and vary from 2-2.30 inches in 
length and 1. 40-1. 47 in breadth. Its breeding range 
in America seems to be Melville Peninsula and the 
Anderson River region, and in Alaska about the Yu- 
kon ; probably also in other localities between these ex- 
tremes. Besides the names already given it is called 
May Cock in Massachusetts and Plot in Virginia, at 
Cobb's Island. 

CHAR ADR I US SQ UA TAR OLA . 

Habitat. — Northern part of northern hemisphere, migrating in Ameri- 
ca southward in winter to the West Indies and Brazil. Breeding in 
Northern Siberia, Alaska, Anderson River region, and Melville Peninsula. 

Adult Male in Summer. — Lores, sides of face, neck in front from hind 
part of eye, and under part of body, jet black; front and top of head above 
eyes, nape, back of neck, widening on the sides to breast, white; centre of 
crown with some black feathers showing ; back and scapulars, black, spotted 
and barred with white ; wing-coverts, ashy brown, spotted and barred with 
white ; greacer coverts, ashy brown, margined with white ; primaries, black- 
ish brown on outer webs, white in center of inner webs, and with white 
shafts ; under wing-coverts white, axillary plumes black ; rump, brown, 
feathers margined with white ; upper tail-coverts, pure white, barred irregu- 
larly with brownish black ; tail, white, barred with brownish black ; vent 
and under tail-coverts, white; bill, black; legs and feet, grayish white. 
Length, about 1 1 inches; wing, *]}/ z ; culmen, 1% ; tarsus, 2. 

Adult Male in Winter. — Upper parts, dark brown, with irregular white 
markings, most numerous on the wing-coverts ; upper tail-coverts, white ; 
entire under parts, white ; lower part of neck and breast, mottled with pale 
brown, and the under tail-coverts slightly marked with brownish black ; 
axillary plumes, black. 



EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 

THE European Golden Plover resembles the American 
species so closely that it might easily be mistaken 
for it by any one not an expert. The only difference 
appearing to be reliable between them is, that while the 
European has the under wing-coverts and axillary 
plumes white in the adult, or nearly so, the American 
has these smoky gray. In their habits there is no ap_ 
preciable difference. This bird is said to occur in 
Greenland and even to breed there, hence its claim to 
admission into our fauna. Its chief breeding places 
are in the northern parts of Great Britain, Norway, 
Russia, and Siberia east to the Yenisei, migrating in 
winter sometimes as far south as the Cape of Good 
Hope. In the Yenisei valley an allied species, the 
Pacific Golden Plover, breeds. 

CHARADRIUS APICARIUS. 

Habitat. — Europe, in winter to Africa ; Eastern Greenland. Breeding 
in Northern parts of Old World from the Atlantic Coast to the valley of 
the Yenisei in Siberia. 

Adult Male in Summer. — Top of head and entire upper parts, black, 
spotted all over with bright yellow, or golden, and white ; wing-coverts, 
dusky brown, spotted sparingly with yellow and white, the latter most 
conspicuous ; primaries, rufous brown, with white shafts ; upper tail-coverts, 
black, irregularly barred with gold ; tail, dark grayish brown, barred with 
white, and a few tinges of yellow ; line across forehead, passing over the 
eyes and extending down the sides of neck, widening as it goes, until it 
forms a broad patch on side of breast, and includes the flanks, white, bor- 
dered on breast and flanks with black, spotted with gold ; sides of head and 
neck, throat, jugulum, middle of breast, and under parts, jet black ; under 

168 



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EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 169 

tail-coverts, mostly white ; axillary plumes, white ; bill, black ; legs and 
feet, bluish gray. Length, io inches; culmen, I ; wing, 7 ; tarsus, 1]^.. 

Adult in Win +<>r. — Upper parts as in summer, the gold spots varying in 
amount among individuals ; under parts, white ; lower part of neck and 
chest mottled with grayish brown and gold, the latter most conspicuous on 
the sides ; under wing-coverts, white, slightly mottled with brown. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 

T N the United States the Golden Plover or Green-back 
* is only a migrant, passing in greater or less num- 
bers in spring and autumn on the way to and from its 
remote northern breeding grounds. It goes mostly 
by the seacoast, or if the weather is favorable, far out 
at sea, making but few stops in the long journey. In 
the autumn I have met with it in great nocks on the 
prairies of Illinois, where they were scattered over the 
grassy plains, feeding on insects and such other food as 
abounded, running lightly about and uttering their 
mellow note. At times they would rise simultaneously, 
as if by some preconcerted signal, mass together in one 
great body and speed over the ground with wonderful 
rapidity, executing intricate evolutions, wheeling and 
darting hither and thither, as if the entire flock was 
actuated by a single impulse. At such times when the 
flock passed low over the earth, presenting the flank of 
the compact mass, numbers would fall at the discharge 
of my gun, but the report did not seem to especially 
alarm the rest, for after proceeding a short distance the 
birds would wheel, return over nearly the same route, 
and pass again as near as before. They would repeat 
this perhaps several times and then alight on the prairie, 
raising their wings over the back for a moment before 
folding them away, stand motionless for an instant as 
if reconnoitering their surroundings, and then scatter 
in pursuit of food. They were fat and in excellent 
condition, and most palatable. In the spring this 

170 



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55. American Golden Plover. 



AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 171 

Plover seems to have no general migratory route, but 
in the autumn more pass along the seacoast than 
through the interior, and great distances are accom- 
plished without a stop being made. Frequently going 
directly out to sea, they fly to the eastward of the 
Bermudas, if the weather is favorable, and so by way 
of the West Indies to South America. But should an 
easterly storm arise they are blown back and then 
appear on various parts of the Atlantic Coast in vast 
numbers. This Plover has many names beside those 
already given, such as Green-head and Green Plover, 
Pale-breast or Pale-belly, Golden-back, Frost Bird, 
Squealer, Toad-head, Prairie Pigeon, etc. It often goes 
in company with different species of waders, especially 
the Red-breasted Snipe, and is a less timid bird than 
the Black-breasted Plover. It does not frequent much 
the wet grounds, preferring rather high and grassy 
plains, and on the seacoast is always found back from 
the shore in the fields and open level stretches. It 
runs rapidly and frequently for a considerable distance 
when alarmed before taking wing. When first dis- 
turbed all the individuals in a flock stand silent and 
motionless, watching the object of their suspicion. At 
such times it is rather difficult to see them, their plum- 
age harmonizes so well with the ground. Then, when 
that which has alarmed them has approached near, a 
note is heard, and the place over which the birds are 
scattered becomes alive with moving forms and beating 
wings, and gathering close together they circle swiftly 
around the observer, or betake themselves to some dis- 
tant field. 

In the far north, on the Alaskan coast, this species is 
Very abundant in the breeding season, arriving in May. 
Its range is difficult to determine, as it is confused with 



172 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

that of its Asiatic relative, the Pacific Golden Plover, 
and from which it is very unsatisfactorily separated. It 
is spread over the eastern shore of Behring Sea, and 
the Arctic, very common at Point Barrow, and reaches 
the shores of Norton Sound the latter part of May. 
They are then in full breeding dress, and present a 
beautiful sight, flying over or feeding on the flats. 
The male is brighter in plumage than the female, and 
at this season is accustomed to utter a sweet, melodious 
song, most frequently heard during the brief hours of 
the Arctic night. Nelson describes this as represented 
by the syllables tee- lee-lee, tu lee lee wit, wit wit, wee-u-wit, 
che lee u too lee-e. The three last syllables serve as a 
call note, he says, but the full song is more often re- 
peated during the night than in the day. The nest is 
arranged in a circular form among the moss or grass, 
lined with the latter and dead leaves. The eggs are 
pale yellowish, with dark reddish brown spots covering 
the shell, averaging in size 1.90 by 1.30 inches. There 
is much variation in the color, both in the spots and in 
that of the shell. The usual number in a nest is four. 
In its breeding dress, together with its gentle, unsus- 
picious nature and melodious voice, the Golden Plover 
is one of the handsomest and most attractive members 
of the family. By the last of September the southern 
migration begins, and all have gone by the middle of 
October. In the Anderson River region, and the Bar- 
ren Grounds up to the Arctic Ocean, this species also 
breeds in great numbers, and many nests and eggs were 
found by MacFarlane. On the California coast the 
Golden Plover appears to be rather rare, the bulk of the 
birds passing much farther to the eastward. On the 
western coast of South America it is an occasional visitor 
in Chili, but in the Argentine Republic it is present in 



AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. 173 

enormous numbers, less plentiful at the present day, how- 
ever, than formerly. When congregating, as is their 
habit, in some marshy place on the pampas during the 
middle of the day, they blacken the ground to the extent 
of several acres, and the din of their voices resembles the 
" roar of a cataract." Hudson mentions one habit they 
have on the pampas, which I have never witnessed my- 
self, when, a few birds passing overhead catch sight of 
others on the ground, they descend rapidly and almost 
vertically on fixed wings to the earth, producing a loud 
sound like the blowing of a horn. The advanced guard 
arrives from the north the last of August, and the 
return journey is begun in March. 

CHARADRIUS DOMINICUS. 

Habitat. —All North America from the Arctic Sea, migrating in winter 
through South America to Chili and Patagonia. Breeding in the Arctic 
region from Greenland to Alaska. 

Adult in Summer. — Resembles so closely the previous species, that an 
extended description is quite unnecessary. The only appreciable difference 
is to be found in the under wing-coverts and axillary plumes, which are 
smoky gray instead of white. Length, about io inches ; wing, average, 
7.09; culmen, .92; tarsus, 1.70; middle toe, .90. 

Winter Plumage. — Differs from the summer in the under parts, which 
are white, mottled with brown on neck and breast, sometimes mixed with 
black. 



PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER. 

TT is exceedingly difficult to distinguish the Pacific 
* Golden Plover from the American, the only differ- 
ence being its smaller size and more golden hue. It oc- 
curs on the Alaskan coast from the peninsula to Point 
Barrow. On this stretch of shore line to the island of St. 
Lawrence, as stated by Nelson, the American Golden 
Plover is the predominating form, but the specimens 
grade regularly into the present subspecies. In the 
interior of Alaska it would appear that the first-men- 
tioned bird is the only one found. The Pacific Golden 
Plover, or the Asiatic form of the American bird, 
occurs on the islands of Behring Sea from the Fur 
Seal to St. Lawrence Island, and Murdoch states that 
all the Golden Plover obtained at Point Barrow be- 
longed to the American species. The range of this bird 
on the Alaskan coast cannot be said to have been sat- 
isfactorily settled as yet. Its habits are like those of the 
American Golden Plover. 

CHARADRIUS DOMINICUS FULVUS. 

Habitat. — Asia and islands in Pacific Ocean, Prybilof Island and coast of 
Alaska. In winter to India, China, and Australia. Breeds in Eastern Si- 
beria from the valley of the Yenisei to the Pacific. 

Adult. — Almost identical with the American Golden Plover, but more 
golden above and slightly smaller, the average of twenty-four specimens 
being, wing, 6.405 culmen, ,92; tarsus, 1.72; middle toe, .90. 



174 




56. Killdeer Plover. 



i 



KILLDEER PLOVER. 

ONE of the most beautiful of all the species, the 
Killdeer Plover, or, as it is frequently called, Kill- 
dee, as an article of food is practically worthless. 
It is distributed generally throughout the limits of the 
United States, and while not uncommon along the 
coast, it is more numerous in the interior. It passes 
nearly all its time upon the ground, walks and runs with 
ease and considerable grace, and is constantly in motion, 
uttering its plaintive cry, which resembles the syllables 
that form its trivial name. It likes to linger around 
pools and the banks of streams, and feeds upon worms, 
insects, larvae, and small Crustacea, and is often seen 
running over plowed ground in search of whatever 
insects may have been ' disclosed in the upturned soil. 
While usually rather tame and gentle, it nevertheless 
resents man's appearance on its territory, and continu- 
ally utters its complaining note, running before him, 
stopping occasionally to take observations or flying 
short distances. When on the wing it is a beautiful 
object, the clear, harmonious-contrasting colors of its 
plumage making it very attractive to watch, as on firm 
wings, it circles around in easy flight. In the autumn it 
often is most numerous near the seashore, but I do not 
remember ever to have seen it actually on the beach. 
Walking quietly over the meadows or fields, thinking 
nothing of birds and none being in sight, one is often 
startled by this Plover rising suddenly from almost be- 
neath his feet, with frequent repetitions of its shrill cry, 
the last syllable sounded in rapid succession — dee, dee dee 

175 



176 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

dee — as though it had no time in its excitement to utter 
the full sound, kill-dee. At such times it flies often in 
an erratic course for quite a distance, and low over the 
ground, as if to entice its disturber to follow it, and acts as 
if its nest was near, although the breeding season may 
have long since passed. It is a noisy bird, and serves on 
many occasions as a sentinel, and gives the alarm to 
other species not so watchful of approaching danger, On 
this account it is not looked upon with favor by sports- 
men who may be endeavoring with well-executed whis- 
tling to lure other waders to their place of concealment. 
Like the Golden Plover and others of the tribe, it fre- 
quently stands motionless watching the object of its 
suspicions, and then running quietly away or rising 
with shrill cries, informing every other bird within hear- 
ing that it is time to be off from that particular locality. 
Frequently the Killdeer remains all winter in some of the 
Middle States if the weather is not too severe, but when 
migrating it travels chiefly at night, often at a great 
height, announcing its presence by its clear, plaintive 
note sounded amidst the stars. It breeds in different 
parts of the land from April to June, and the nest is 
merely a depression in the ground, lined sometimes with 
grass. The eggs, four in number, are much pointed at 
one end, of a cream color, spotted thickly with blackish 
brown. Sometimes the ground color is a brownish 
drab and the spots rather small. They measure \}A 
inches long by i}£ broad. 



ALGIALITES VOCIFERA. 

Habitat. — Temperate North America from the Saskatchewan to Ber- 
mudas, West Indies ; Central America to Colombia in winter. Breeding in 
the proper season wherever found. 

Adult. — Top of head, nape, back, and wings, grayish brown, some of the 




57 



. Tail of the Killdeer Plover. 



KILLDEER PLOVER. 177 

feathers on the back margined with rufous ; greater wing-coverts broadly 
tipped with white, forming a conspicuous bar across the wing ; primaries, 
black, inner one with lengthened patch of white on outer webs ; rump 
and upper tail-coverts, ochraceous, darkest on the former ; tail, long, the 
middle pair pale greenish gray, tinged with ochraceous, graduating into 
black and tipped with buff; rest of feathers, ochraceous, with a subterminal 
black bar and white tips ; forehead, superciliary stripe, and throat, white, 
extending in the form of a ring around back of neck ; stripe from bill to 
ear-coverts, black ; broad band across lower part of throat, and another, 
narrower, across upper part of breast, jet black ; rest of under parts pure 
white ; bill, black ; eyelids, bright orange ; legs and feet, grayish yellow. 
Length, io inches ; wing, 6^ ; tail, 3^ ; tarsus, 1^ ; culmen, ^. 

Downy Young. — Upper parts, grayish brown, reddish on the wings, 
mottled with black and buff ; a line from bill to eye, another across front 
of head, one at base of occiput, bordering the white nuchal collar, and 
another below it, and a line down back, black ; front and under parts pure 
white, with a black bar across upper part of breast. 



SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. 

THE Semipalmated or Ring-neck Plover is a migrant 
* in the United States, passing northward in April 
and May and returning again in August. Along the sea- 
coast it is one of the most familiar species, running 
rapidly over the sand in company with flocks of Sand- 
pipers, searching for minute insects and shellfish 
washed up or exposed by the tumbling tides. It is a 
very gentle and unsuspicious bird, and pays but slight 
attention to man's presence, pursuing its avocations 
without regard to what is going on near at hand. This 
species resembles very closely its European relative, 
^L. hiaticula, or Ring Plover, but is easily distinguished 
from it and other American species by the extent of 
web at the base of all the toes. The Ring-neck is dis- 
tributed over all North America, most numerous, how- 
ever, on the seacoasts, scattered about in small groups, 
and frequenting both the sandy beach and the salt 
meadows and mud flats left bare by the tides. Al- 
though in winter it goes into South America, many 
pass this season in the southern parts of the United 
States and in the Bahamas. It is a silent species, 
uttering its sharp note mainly when alarmed; and when 
desirous of removing itself from any fancied danger, 
frequently trusts to its legs, instead of taking flight, 
and running swiftly among the sand dunes, conceals 
itself behind tufts of grass or any object affording 
a temporary hiding place. In the interior, through 




§g~ 




58. Semipalmated Plover. 



SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 179 

which it passes regularly during- the migrations, this 
Plover is found about the margins of ponds, lakes, and 
along the shores of rivers. Its breeding grounds are in 
the Arctic regions, quite across the continent from 
Greenland to Alaska. MacFarlane found many nests 
in the Anderson River region quite up to the shores of 
the Arctic Sea, and Dall also observed it as very com- 
mon at Nulato and the mouth of the Yukon, while 
down the Alaskan coast to Sitka it is numerous in the 
summer. The nest is a cavity in the soil, occasionally 
lined with dead leaves, the eggs, from two to four in 
number, drab in color, with scattered btack spots and 
blotches, and with an average measurement of ij£ 
inches long by about i inch broad. It also breeds 
abundantly in Labrador and in various parts of British 
North America. According to Nelson, it is found on 
both shores of Behring Sea, and along the northeastern 
coast of Asia, while it has been met with by various 
naturalists on both coasts of South America, as well as 
in the interior east of the Andes. 



jEGIALITIS semipalmata. 

Habitat. — North and South America, Greenland, Bermudas, West Indies. 
Breeding in both Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. Migrating from North 
America in winter to Brazil, Peru, and the Galapagos Islands. 

Adult. — Forehead, spot under the eye, throat, and ring round the neck, 
pure white ; line over the base of bill, lores, line beneath eye, band across 
the crown, bar across breast encircling the back beneath white ring, jet 
black ; occiput and nape, back, wings, rump, and upper tail-coverts, ashy 
brown ; tips of greater wing-coverts, white, forming bar across wing ; pri- 
maries, brownish black, with white shafts, and a white streak on outer webs 
of innermost one; middle tail-feathers, ashy brown, with a subterminal 
brownish-black bar, tipped with white, the remainder similar, but graduating 
into the white of the outer feathers ; under parts beneath black breast bar, 
pure white; bill, orange yellow at base, black at tip; legs and feet, flesh 



180 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

color. Length, 7 inches ; wing, \% ; culmen, ]/ 2 ; tarsus, I, web between 
outer toes and the middle one reaching to second joint. 

Immature. — Similar to the adult, but the black replaced by ashy brown, 
like the upper parts ; maxilla, black • base of mandible, pale orange. 




be 

a 

2 

a 

a 
o 



EUROPEAN RING PLOVER. 

T N their habits and economy this species and the pre- 
* vious one do not appear to present any especial 
difference worthy of note. It is included in our fauna 
from the fact of its breeding on the American side of 
Davis Bay, on the shores of the Cumberland Gulf. 

jEGIALITIS hiaticula. 

Habitat. — Northern portions of Old World from the British islands as 
far east in Asia as the Taimyr Peninsula. Breeding in Cumberland Bay, 
Davis Strait, Greenland, Iceland, Spitzbergen, and Nova Zembla ; also in 
western Siberia and Turkestan. Winters in Africa. 

Adult. — Resembles very closely the Semipalmated Plover, but is larger. 
The only difference observable between the species is, that the present 
has a conspicuous white spot behind the eye, and the basal web between the 
outer and middle toe only reaches to the first joint. 



181 



LITTLE RING PLOVER. 

T^HIS is another European species, very doubtfully 
* included in the North American fauna, having 
even much less grounds for its reception than the pre- 
ceding ones. 

^GIA LITIS DUB J A. 

Habitat. — Northern portion of Old World as far east as China. Winters 
in Africa. Breeds in north of Europe and Asia. Accidental on coast of 
Alaska and California. 

The Little Ring Plover is almost an exact counterpart of the European 
Ring Plover, but is smaller than the Semipalmated Plover. The differences 
claimed for it beside its size are, the white on primaries confined to the 
shaft ; base of mandible only yellow ; legs and feet dull yellow instead 
of orange yellow ; orbits yellow and iris dark hazel. Length, 6 inches ; 
wing, 4*4; tail, 2}£ ; culmen, jj£ ; tarsus, %. 



182 




6o. Little Ring Plover. 




6i. Piping Plover. 



PIPING PLOVER. 

T N its habits the Piping Plover does not differ from 
* those of kindred species dwelling upon the borders 
of the sea, and obtaining nourishment from the sands 
washed by the flowing tides. From many of its re- 
sorts along the Atlantic Coast, where in former days 
it was most abundant, it has been driven by the ad- 
vance of fashion and the influx of the summer's passing 
population, until it is now found chiefly on the more 
retired parts of the coast where it is most free from 
molestation. Although perhaps of not so confiding a 
disposition as the Semipalmated Plover, it yet can not 
be regarded as a wild species, though its acquaintance 
with man has caused it to be at the present time, in 
most places where it is found, a rather wary bird. It 
loves to resort to the sandy beaches, where, close to the 
water's edge, it follows the retiring waves, picking up 
with great rapidity the insects and small Crustacea 
disclosed upon the sand. Its movements are very 
quick, and it runs with great swiftness, avoiding with 
surpassing agility the rush of the incoming wave, that 
would seem certain to engulf it. At times it skims 
over the ocean at a short distance from the land, rising 
and falling over the rolling waves at just a sufficient 
height to escape their curling crests, or with rapid 
wing-beats it darts along the shore from one part of 
the beach from which it has been disturbed to another 
but a short distance beyond. Sometimes its brief 
flight is made directly over the sands, again by a 

183 



1 84 NOR TH A M ERICA N SHORE BIRD S. 

lengthened curve over the water. When the tide is 
high, in company with other beach birds, this Plover 
retires to the dunes and sandy districts at the back of 
the seabeach, and rests and sleeps away the hours, if 
unmolested, until the retiring tide again lays bare the 
places from which its food is gathered. This consists 
of worms, insects of various kinds, and small Crustacea, 
in the pursuit of which it is very diligent. The note of 
the Piping Plover is soft and musical, and is frequently 
uttered when startled, or as the bird flies along the 
beach. The nest is but a depression in the sand, ex- 
tremely difficult to find, as the eggs resemble so much 
their usual surroundings as to be almost imperceptible 
to the eye. Their color is a light yellowish drab, 
spotted with black or blackish brown, measuring i}( 
inches in length by i in breadth. The mother em- 
ploys all the well-known artifices to draw away the in- 
truder from the vicinity of the nest, such as lameness, 
inability to fly, etc., and the young run as soon as they 
leave the egg, and are great adepts at hiding, squat- 
ting, and remaining motionless, until almost stepped 
upon. Their downy plumage so assimilates the chicks 
to the sand around them that unless they discover 
themselves by moving, it requires a very keen eye in- 
deed to distinguish them from the numberless tufts 
dotted about the higher portions of the beach. Al- 
though so essentially a " beach bird," this Plover is by 
no means unknown in the interior, and is found in con- 
siderable numbers around the shores of the Great 
Lakes, as well as others, as far west as Wisconsin. It 
is a migrant in Manitoba, and although replaced in the 
Missouri region by a race very like it in appearance, it 
is doubtless also found with members of the Belted 
Piping Plover in the Mississippi Valley, even to Texas. 



PIPING PLO VER. . 185 

It breeds apparently throughout its range, from Cuba 
to the Magdalen Islands, perhaps even in Southern 
Labrador, but more generally from Virginia north- 
ward. As a rule the Beach Bird, as it is called in 
many places, prefers to trust to its legs rather than to 
its wings, but is able to perform long journeys in a brief 
period, and during its migrations proceeds at a consid- 
erable elevation. When fat the flesh of this bird is 
very palatable, though at times it has a sedgy flavor. 

^EGIALITIS MELODA. 

Habitat. — Eastern North America from Labrador along the Atlantic Coast, 
west to the Great Lakes. In winter to Bermuda, Cuba, and West Indies, 
Breeding most commonly from Virginia northward. 

Aluli Male. — Band across forehead between eyes, and another around 
back of neck, and on sides of breast, jet black ; forehead, ring around neck 
above the black, and entire under parts, pure white ; head on top, ear- 
coverts, back, and wings, pale ashy, with a brown tinge ; rump and upper 
tail-coverts, white, washed with ashy ; primaries, dark brown ; shafts and 
great part of inner webs, white, inner primaries having outer webs also 
mostly white ; tail, white at base, graduating on all but two outer white 
feathers into a subterminal black band, and with white tips ; bill, orange ; 
tip, black; legs and feet, orange yellow. Length, 7 inches; wing, 4^ ; 
culmen, y z ; tarsus, % ; middle toe, }(. 

Female. — Similar in plumage to the male, but with the black bars more of 
a brownish hue and less in amount. 

Young. — Without the black band, and the nuchal collar ashy brown. 



BELTED PIPING PLOVER. 

T N its habits this race does not differ from the eastern 
* Piping Plover. It breeds in various portions of 
its range, and possibly as far eastward as Lake Kosh- 
konong, in Wisconsin, where, from the behavior of the 
birds, Mr. Nelson supposed it nested on the beach, but 
he found no nest or eggs, although he procured one 
from a female shot at Waukegan. It occasionally oc- 
curs on the Atlantic Coast among flocks of the Piping 
Plover, straying from its home in the interior, in the 
same way as the eastern bird appears among the west- 
ern race. In Texas, in the vicinity or Corpus Christi, it 
appears to be quite common. 

^GIALITIS MELODA CIRCUMCINCTA. 

Habita A— Mississippi Valley north to Lake Winnipeg. Occasional on 
Atlantic Coast. Breeding in its range. 

Adult Male. — Resembles the plumage of the Piping Plover, but has the 
black on the breast continuous, forming an uninterrupted band. Young 
birds do not have this, and in individuals among adults it varies in intensity, 
caused possibly by difference of sex. 



186 




62. Belted Piping Plover. 




63. Snowy Plover. 



SNOWY PLOVER. 

"T*HE Snowy Plover is a Western bird, occurring from 
* the Great Salt Lake to the Pacific. It is abundant 
at times on the shores of the Great Salt Lake, and may 
possibly breed there. On the coast of California, espe- 
cially in the southern portion, it is very common, dwell- 
ing upon the shore, and having all the habits of the 
Piping Plover, following the waves as they recede upon 
the beach and running rapidly back to escape those that 
come rolling in. It lays its eggs in a hollow in the sand ; 
but once Mr. Henshaw found them deposited on a glitter- 
ing collection of bits of mother-of-pearl and broken 
shells. They are of a light clay color, spotted with 
black, measuring i% inches in length by about j4 
inch in breadth. 

The Snowy Plover goes in small flocks, and is a 
very busy little bird, running nimbly over the sand 
intent upon its diet of insects and Crustacea, for which 
it is always engaged in active search whenever the 
tide permits. 

It has a low, rather mournful note resembling that 
of the Piping Plover, which it utters frequently when 
any one intrudes in the vicinity of the eggs or young ; 
the female at the same time, by all the usual arti- 
fices and mournful pleadings, endeavors to entice the 
observer in pursuit of herself and away from her 
treasures. 

In its southern migration it is found on both 
coasts of Central America, and in the United States 

187 



188 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

east of the Rocky Mountains; has been obtained in 
Kansas and the Indian Territory; also it is found 
in Texas. 

sEGIA LITIS NIVOSA. 

Habitat. — Western North America from Great Salt Lake to the Pacific, 
north to Cape Mendocino. In winter through Central America along the 
western coast of South America to Chili ; Western Cuba. Breeding in its 
northern range. 

Adult Male. — Forehead, superciliaries, indistinct collar on back of neck, 
and entire under parts, pure white ; band across front of crown (in some 
specimens a broken line across lores), ear-coverts, and broad patch on either 
side of the breast, jet black; crown and nape, reddish buff; upper parts, 
grayish brown ; primaries, blackish brown, with white shafts ; inner second- 
aries, broadly marked with white ; middle tail-feathers, dusky brown, grow- 
ing paler on the others to the outermost pair, which are pure white ; bill, 
black; legs and feet, yellowish in skin. Length, 6 ^ inches; wing, 4^; 
culmen, ^ ; tarsus, I ; middle toe, )/ 2 inch. 

Young. — Black markings replaced by ashy brown, feathers of the back 
faintly margined with brownish white. 

The black line across the lores from the bill is often, probably in the vast 
majority of specimens, obsolete ; again it is quite distinct in some males 
in the breeding plumage, but rarely is it perfect as in the European 
AL. contiana or Kentish Plover, to which the present species bears a 
strong resemblance. 




64. Mongolian Plover. 



MONGOLIAN PLOVER. 

A VERY handsome bird, the Mongolian Plover is 
**■ an Asiatic species and owes its appearance in the 
American fauna from the fact that the captain of the 
English ship Plover obtained two specimens on Choris 
Peninsula, in Kotzebue Sound, in 1849. They were 
undoubtedly stragglers from the islands in Behring 
Sea, on some of which the species is quite numerous. 
In the Commander Islands it is a common summer res- 
ident, one of the handsomest of the beach birds, run- 
ning with great rapidity over the pebbly shore in search 
of food. It breeds in June, the nest, as described by 
Stegneger, was placed in a slight hollow in the ground 
between the stems of four Angelica archangelica and 
formed of leaves, stems, and seeds of the same plant. 
It was about forty feet from high-water mark. The 
eggs resembled those of the Semipalmated Plover, but 
larger and of a deeper color, and were three in number. 

^SGIALITIS MONGOLA. 

Habitat. — Northern Asia ; in winter from the Red Sea to the Malay 
Archipelago and Australia. Accidental on Choris Peninsula, Alaska. 
Breeds from Eastern Turkestan to the valley of the Amoor. 

Adult Male. — Forehead, white, bordered by black, formed by a line 
from bill to eye, and another across front of crown ; line beneath the eye, a 
continuation of loral stripe, and ear-coverts, black ; stripe from behind the 
eye, buff, graduating into bright rufous ; crown and nape, brownish gray, 
mottled with rufous on the anterior portion ; a narrow nuchal collar, widen- 
ing into a broad band that crosses the breast, bright cinnamon rufous ; upper 
parts and wings, brownish gray, with a slight greenish tinge, lighter on the 

189 



190 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

rump ; tips of greater wing-coverts, white, forming a bar ; primaries, black- 
ish brown, first with white shaft, remainder with only apical half white ; 
upper tail-coverts, pale grayish brown in the center, lateral ones white ; 
tail, dark brownish gray on central pair, graduating in the rest to the pure 
white of the outer feather, and all except middle pair tipped with white ; 
entire under parts, excepting breast band, pure white ; bill, black ; legs and 
feet, gray, tinged with olive. Length, 63^ inches ; wing, 5^ ; culmen, |^ ; 
tarsus, 1 yi ; middle toe, ^. 

In the Winter Plumage the breast is crossed by a narrow grayish- 
brown band instead of cinnamon rufous, and the black markings of the 
head are replaced by grayish brown. 




65. Wilson's Plover. 



WILSON'S PLOVER. 

T^HIS species, which in its plumage so much re- 
* sembles the Semipalmated Plover, is more a so- 
journer of the southern portion of our seacoast, and is 
not common much above the sand- beaches of Virginia. 
It is true it is found on the shores of Long Island and 
occasionally proceeds onward as far as Nova Scotia, but 
it is only a straggler there, and its more congenial 
home is on the southern Atlantic seaboard. On the 
Pacific it is found on the California coast, very abun- 
dant in the southern part, and then it goes on both 
coasts of South America to Brazil and Peru,, It is 
a beach bird, fond of running over the sand, and seek- 
ing its food along the margin of the seething, tumbling 
waves hurled on to the sounding shores from ocean's 
heaving breast. Like the other Plovers and various 
Sandpipers with which it often associates, it is active 
in avoiding the rush of the water as it is flung from the 
breaking waves, and with surprising agility snatches 
from side to side any toothsome morsel, such as insect 
or small shellfish washed about by the curling water, in 
which it may often be standing half -breast high. Wil- 
son's Plover migrates in small flocks, arriving in April 
or May, and soon the little company breaks up into 
pairs, and the important business of nesting with its at- 
tendant joys and cares commences. Back from the 
beach where the grass is short a hollow is scooped in 
the ground so shallow that it would easily be passed 
unnoticed, or sometimes in a scanty tuft of grass, 



192 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS, 

usually three eggs are deposited, sometimes four, pale 
olive drab in color, spotted and splashed profusely 
with blackish brown, 1.40 inches long by 1 inch broad. 
Terns and Plovers sometimes select the same locality 
for a breeding ground, and then the air is filled with 
active, graceful figures wheeling and flying about in all 
manner of beautiful curves and evolutions ; while the ear 
of the observer is made to ring from the various cries 
uttered in never-ceasing chorus by the loving, excited 
creatures guarding their treasure, and the males en- 
courage the patient females with low melodious notes, 
or with frantic scream and downward swoop, both sexes 
strive to terrify and drive away some intruder on 
their domain. The usual note is a whistle and chirp, 
a mixture of both, very different from that of allied 
Plovers. In the more southern seaboard States this 
species is quite abundant, and in flocks of two or three 
dozen present a most attractive sight as they run about 
the beach, or with steady easy flight pass rapidly from 
one point to another, uttering, as they speed along, their 
peculiar low note. Wilson's Plover is easily recogniz- 
able among the American species by its large, strong 
bill, much larger in proportion to the size of the bird 
than that of any other Plover. 

MG I A LITIS WILSONIA. 

Habitat. — Coasts of North America from Long Island, and Lower Cal- 
ifornia, southward to West Indies, Brazil, and Peru. Occasional in Nova 
Scotia. 

Adult Male. — Forehead, line over eye, white; lores, brownish black; 
black band across front of crown ; crown, nape, and ear-coverts, brownish 
gray, tinged with buff; throat and upper part of neck, and a band around 
back of neck nearly meeting in the center, pure white ; back, wings, and 
rump, brownish gray ; lesser wing-coverts, margined with whitish ; greater 
coverts, tipped with white, forming a bar ; primaries, dark brown, with white 



WILSON'S PLOVER. 193 

shafts ; middle upper tail-coverts, brownish gray ; lateral ones, white ; a 
broad black band across upper part of breast ; rest of under parts, pure 
white; bill, black; legs and feet, flesh color. Length, 7 1 / 2 inches; wing, 
4^f; oilmen, ^; tarsus, 1% ; middle toe, ^. 

Female. — Like the male, but the black markings replaced by brownish 
gray tinged with rusty, the breast band tinged with buff. 



MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 

T^HIS is a prairie Plover, never resorting to the 
A beach, but dwelling upon the plains away from 
the water, preferring the grassy districts, sometimes 
being found even in sterile tracts covered with the sage- 
bush and kindred plants. The Mountain Plover goes 
in quite large flocks, is naturally tame and unsus- 
picious, permitting intrusion upon its haunts without 
evincing any especial alarm, though after having made 
man's acquaintance, and conscious of the danger there 
is in his society, it becomes shy and wary and will not 
allow a near approach. It rises from the ground by 
several quick flaps of the wings, and wheels and circles 
over the prairie in beautiful evolutions, exhibiting al- 
ternately the under and upper sides of the body in the 
manner of many Sandpipers.; the dark back is brought 
into strong contrast with the white under parts, as the 
latter flash in the sunlight, when brought into view of 
the spectator. This species runs rapidly and easily, 
with lowered head, and after proceeding for a short 
distance, stops abruptly and remains motionless, appar- 
ently to survey the ground about it or to observe the 
cause of its temporary alarm. The flight is usually 
performed low over the ground, flapping and sailing, 
with decurved wings, and it runs a few steps after 
alighting; and if much alarmed, the bird will squat 
close to the ground, trying to conceal itself as much as 
possible. In the desert region of New Mexico this 
bird is at times very numerous, and also in Arizona and 

194 




66. Mountain Plover. 



MO UN TA IN PL VER. 195 

Southern California. The note is usually a low whistle, 
changing to a shrill, loud utterance when alarmed. 
The Mountain Plover feeds chiefly, if not altogether, 
upon insects, such as grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, 
ticks, and possibly worms when available, and is often 
very fat and in fine condition. In the breeding season, 
when the birds are scattered about the plains in pairs, 
they are usually silent, as if desirous of drawing as 
little attention to themselves and their important occu- 
pation as possible. The nest, which is merely the usual 
depression in the ground, perhaps lined with a little 
grass, contains generally three eggs, which are of an 
olive or brownish drab, spotted all over with blackish 
brown. The spots are small and most numerous at the 
larger end. After the young are hatched, which occurs" 
in June or July, according to locality, sometimes several 
broods and their parents associate together in small 
companies. This Plover is not recorded north of the 
United States. Its nearest relative is the Asiatic 
Plover, and differs from the majority of the members 
of the genus in the lack of black bands on the chest, 
which is peculiar to other members of the group, mak- 
ing them rather conspicuous objects in the family. 

&GIALITES MONTANA. 

Habitat. — Western United States from the Great Plains to the Pacific. 
Accidental in Florida. Breeding in Dakota, on the Platte River, and other 
points of its range. 

Adult in Breeding Dress. — Front and stripe over the eye, white; fore 
part of crown and stripe from bill to eye, black ; rest of crown and entire 
upper parts, light grayish brown, sometimes the feathers edged with reddish 
buff ; primaries, brownish black, lightest on inner webs, and with white 
shafts ; upper tail-coverts, pale brown ; tail, dusky brown, all the feathers, 
save the outermost pair, blackish subterminally, and tipped with white ; 
entire under parts, dull white ; across the breast an indistinct ochraceous 



196 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

bar, darkest on the sides ; bill, black ; feet and tarsi, orange yellow. 
Length, 8)4 inches ; wing, 6 ; culmen, "fa ; tarsus, \]/ z ; middle toe, j{. 

Winter. — The black markings on the head are absent, and the plumage 
more tinged with buff. 

Young. — Head, neck, and upper part of breast, grayish brown, like the 
back ; under parts tinged with buff. 



*A" 



As 







#^ 



r <^ 



67. Plover-billed Turnstone. 



PLOVER-BILLED TURNSTONE. 

SURF BIRD, as it is usually called, or the Plover- 
billed Turnstone, is rare on our shores, although it 
ranges nearly the entire length of the western seaboard 
of the two Americas. But little is known of its habits, 
and its breeding place and eggs have not yet been dis- 
covered, but it is probable that it nests in the northern 
part of its dispersion and winters in the lower part of 
South America. In Alaska it has been taken near 
Sitka, and also on the island of St. Michael's, and prob- 
ably it frequents the outlying islands and capes in Behr- 
ing Strait and Sea. At St. Michael's the specimens 
obtained were on the muddy flats ; and at the mouth of 
the Columbia River it has been seen on the rocks near 
to the sea, where the spray from the heavy surf flew 
over it as it searched for its food. Its favorite haunts 
are said to be the same as those of the Wandering Tat- 
tler, but little is really known about it. 

It is said to visit the Sandwich Islands, but there is 
no authentic record of its ever having been taken in 
that group. 

APHRIZA VIRGATA. 

Habitat. — Pacific Coast of North and South America from Alaska to 
Chili. Breeding place unknown. 

Adult in Summer. — Head, neck, back, and breast, mottled with black 
and white, the former, in shape of streaks on head and neck, but of crescentic 
bars, on back and breast ; scapulars, black, with large spots of rufous ; 
wing-coverts, dark grayish brown ; tips of greater coverts, white, forming a 
bar across the wing ; primaries, blackish brown ; shafts, white ; rump, 

197 



198 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

brownish black, feathers indistinctly margined with white ; upper tail- 
coverts, pure white ; tail, white on basal half, remaining portion black, nar- 
rowly tipped with white ; flanks, abdomen, and lower tail-coverts, pure 
white, with black spots on flanks and tail-coverts ; bill, black ; base of 
mandible, grayish yellow ; legs and feet, gamboge yellow. Length, io 
inches; wing, 7; culmen I ; tarsus, 1^4 , middle toe, 9-10. 

Winter Plumage. — Head, neck, breast, and upper parts, dusky brown 
or slate color : rest as in summer. 




68. Turnstone. 



TURNSTONE. 

THERE is much individual variation among exam- 
* pies of this species, caused mainly by sex and sea- 
son, and while birds in the plumages described hereafter 
bear a very general resemblance to each other, still cer- 
tain difference will be seen that renders even the most 
minute description of any particular individual not ap- 
plicable in all respects to any other, but the species is 
so widely distributed and generally known, that it is 
not likely to be confounded with any other, even by 
one whose knowledge of the waders is limited. 

The common Turnstone is generally distributed 
throughout North America, most numerous along the 
seacoasts of both oceans, and is found in the interior of 
the continent on the shores of the Great Lakes, as well 
as other bodies of water of less dimensions, and also the 
shores of streams, and is known by the popular names 
of Brant Bird, Horsefoot or Horsefoot Snipe, Beach 
Bird, Streaked Back, Calico Bird, Checkered Snipe, and 
many others. It does not associate in large flocks, but 
goes in little companies, often singly, and wanders over 
the beach in search of insects and small Crustacea. It 
also feeds upon the spawn of the king crab, or " horse- 
foot," as it is usually called, and from this takes one of 
its trivial names! In searching for its food, it rolls over 
the small pebbles lying everywhere upon the beach, 
and examines earnestly the exposed spot for any insect 
its action has disclosed. The various small companies 
pass northward in April to their far northern breeding 

199 



200 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

grounds, returning- in August, and linger frequently on 
the beaches of the Middle States until quite late in the 
autumn, and in some of the Gulf States individuals re- 
main during the entire winter. Sometimes the Turn- 
stone will alight on the branches of mangroves or on 
stumps standing in the water, and if unmolested will 
remain for a long time in such situations. The bright 
plumage of these little birds makes them very attrac- 
tive objects as they run about the sands, the sunlight 
glancing upon their variegated-colored backs, and when 
on the wing the strong contrasting hues of its plumage 
appear to the greatest advantage. Its flight is fast, 
performed usually at a low elevation ; first a few rapid 
beats, then sailing along on motionless pinions, suc- 
ceeded by some more quick flaps. It is a very ener- 
getic and persistent bird, very active, runs with great 
speed, and stopping constantly to investigate some ob- 
ject that has caught its eye or some spot likely to yield 
some favorite morsel. When it finds a stone rather 
difficult to move from its weight, it tugs at it with all 
its might, not infrequently pushing against it with its 
breast ; and if the object is too deeply implanted in the 
sand to be turned over in the ordinary way, it endeav- 
ors to undermine it and roll it over in the hole thus 
made. As a rule, the Turnstone is not a shy bird, but 
at the same time does not permit an observer to ap- 
proach very near, but rises, uttering a few low notes, 
and moves on for a short distance. It has a clear, loud 
whistle, composed of one or two notes, sometimes the 
single one being repeated, forming three, uttered rap- 
idly. It is a good swimmer, and not at all incom- 
moded upon the water, sometimes deliberately seating 
itself upon the surface, where it moves about with ease 
and grace. It has the usual habit witnessed in beach 



TURNSTONE. 201 

birds, of running a few steps, then stopping suddenly 
and remaining motionless, as though in deep thought, 
or to take especial observation of some particular ob- 
ject, and then running swiftly on again, its course 
abruptly terminated by some stone lying in its path, 
and which it is obliged to turn over and discover what 
may be hidden beneath. Bold and rocky shores are as 
much frequented by the Turnstones as the sandy 
beaches, and it busies itself with the shells clinging to 
the stones or grass cast up by the sea. As far as man 
has penetrated into the frozen regions of the north, the 
Turnstone has been found breeding quite across the 
North American continent. It arrives at its nesting 
place the last of May, and is quite noisy, as it flies from 
one feeding place to another, when disturbed. On the 
Alaskan coast it breeds in the same localities and min- 
gles with the Black Turnstone, the two species flying to- 
gether in small flocks. The nest is the usual depression 
in the ground, lined with a few withered leaves, 
and the eggs, four in number, vary greatly in their 
coloration, from a pale olive green to buff, spotted and 
blotched with dark or blackish brown and purplish gray, 
and measure 1.60 to 1.72 inches in length and from 
1. 13 to 1.23 inches in breadth. When disturbed on its 
breeding ground the Turnstone becomes very excited, 
running and flying about, uttering shrill notes. The 
parents lead the young to the shore soon after they are 
hatched, which happens toward the middle of July, and 
in August they commence their long journey to their 
winter quarters in far southern lands. In one of the 
South Pacific Islands (Nawado or Pleasant Island, lati- 
tude o° 25' south, 167 5' east longitude) the natives 
keep this species in small cup-shaped cages, and em- 
ploy them in fighting, one bird against the other, in 



202 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

the manner of game-cocks. It is probable that captiv- 
ity or the effects of food given them produces this pug- 
nacity, a trait not exhibted by the Turnstone in its wild 
state, as any species of shore bird would seem to be the 
very last one to select for the purpose of combat in a 
prize-ring. 

ARENARIA INTERPRES. 

Habitat. — Cosmopolitan; found in nearly every part of the world; almost 
exclusively a shore bird. It has been met with in Central Asia and 
Africa, in North and South America from Alaska to Straits of Magellan, 
and interior of North America. Breeds in circumpolar regions, on shores 
of Arctic Sea. 

Adult in Summer. — Head, a large spot on the lores, top of head, ear- 
coverts, nape, back of neck, and upper part of back, extending to sides of 
breast, chin, and throat, white, streaked on crown with black ; rest of head, 
sides, and front of neck, and upper part of breast, jet black ; back and scap- 
ulars, black, center of mantle and scapulars, blotched with rufous; lesser 
wing-coverts, rufous ; greater coverts, black, margined broadly with white, 
forming a conspicuous bar across the wing ; primaries, dark brown, tipped 
with white, and with white shafts ; lower part of back and rump, white ; 
middle upper tail-coverts, black, margined with rufous, lower ones white ; 
tail, white, with broad subterminal black band and tipped with white ; 
under parts below, black ; breast, pure white ; bill, black ; feet and legs, 
orange red. Length, 9 inches ; wing, 6 ; culmen, fa ; tarsus, I ; middle 
toe, %. 

Winter Plumage. — Resembles the summer dress, but has less rufous, 
and the black feathers on head, neck, and breast have white margins. 

Young. — Upper parts, dark brown, mottled with black and pale brown, 
and some rufous on scapulars ; top and sides of head, pale brown, streaked 
narrowly with black ; breast, mottled with black and pale brown ; throat 
and under parts, pure white. 







69. Black Turnstone. 



BLACK TURNSTONE. 

THE Black Turnstone is only found in North Amer- 
* ica on the Pacific Coast, and in some localities is 
quite numerous. In its habits it resembles the better- 
known species that roams around the world, but, unlike 
its relative, is not possessed of the roving spirit that 
carries that bird into nearly every known land. It is 
most abundant in the northern part of its range, visit- 
ing Southern California in restricted numbers, at times 
in the company of the common Turnstone. It is plen- 
tiful on the coast of Behring Sea and on the shores of 
Alaska, near Point Barrow, as well as on various 
islands. It visits the wet flats and the shores of brack- 
ish ponds, also marshy places, and in all such localities 
it breeds. 

The note is a piping cry, resembling weet, weet, 
too-weet in the breeding season, and when disturbed 
near the nest utters a sharp peet, weet, weet, re- 
sembling that of the Spotted Sandpiper. The spe- 
cies reaches its nesting grounds in May, and breeds 
wherever it happens to stay. The young are on the 
wing in July, and resort to the coast to seek their food 
along the margin of the sea. The Black Turnstone 
displays the same distress as the other species when its 
breeding place is invaded, circling about and never a 
moment at rest. 

The eggs are an olive drab, profusely covered with 
dark spots, similar to those of the common Turnstone. 

203 . 



204 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

By the middle of September all have left their north- 
ern homes for southern lands. 

A REN A RIA MELA NO CE PHALA. 

Habitat. — Pacific Coast from Alaska to Santa Margarita Island, Lower 
California. Breeding from Alaska to British Columbia. Accidental in 
India. 

Adult in Breeding Plumage. — Spot in front and behind the eye, and 
streaks on forehead and ear-coverts, white ; rest of head, neck, back, and 
scapulars, brownish black, with greenish reflections, edged on scapulars 
and greater wing-coverts with white, forming a bar on the wing ; primaries, 
dark brown on outer webs, whitish on inner, and with white shafts ; lower 
part of back aud rump, pure white ; short upper tail-coverts, black, longest 
and lateral ones white ; tail, with a very broad subterminal black band ; 
throat and chest, blackish brown, lighter than the back, feathers edged 
with light brown and with white streaks on breast; rest of under parts, 
pure white ; bill, black ; legs and feet, greenish yellow. Length, 9 inches ; 
wing, 6; culmen, I ; tarsus, I ; middle toe, J/%. 

Winter Plumage. — Like the summer, no white on head or neck in 
front. 




7o. European Oyster-catcher. 



EUROPEAN OYSTER-CATCHER. 

TTS only claim to a place in the North American 
*■ fauna is based on the fact that the European Oyster- 
catcher has appeared in Greenland. In general appear- 
ance it closely resembles the common American species 
distributed generally throughout our country, but is a 
smaller bird, and may be at once distinguished by its 
white rump, the American species having this part dark 
brown in the center. It is common in the British 
Islands, found also along the shores of the Atlantic 
throughout the eastern coast of north-western Europe, 
and is met with on the banks of the great rivers in 
eastern Europe and western Asia. It is replaced in 
eastern China and Japan by a closely allied species or 
race, with less white on the wings; by some ornitholo- 
gists, however, this is not deemed a mark of sufficient 
importance to have even a subspecific value. In winter 
it ranges into Africa, as far south on the east as Mozam- 
bique, and on the west to Senegambia. In its habits 
and economy it resembles the American Oyster-catcher, 
scratches a hollow near the seashore in the gravel or 
amid the stones, placing at the bottom a few weeds, on 
which three, sometimes four, eggs are deposited. 
These are buff in color, spotted with blackish brown 
and purplish gray, measuring about 2 1-5 by i}4 
inches. 

HyEMA TOP US S TRA LEG US. 

Habitat, — Eastern hemisphere from the Atlantic to the valley of the 
Obb. Frequenting the seacoasts to Archangel, thence eastward on the 

205 



2l6 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

banks of great rivers. Occasional in Greenland. Breeding in Eastern 
Siberia and Kamtshatka. 

Adult. — Head, neck all around, and upper parts of breast, black; back 
and wings, brownish black ; primaries, brownish black on outer webs, white 
on great part of inner, and extending on to outer webs on the fourth and 
fifth ; shafts, white ; greater wing-coverts, rump, upper tail-coverts, and en- 
tire lower parts, pure white ; tail, white on basal half, remainder brownish 
black ; bill, orange vermilion ; legs and feet, dull crimson ; iris, crimson. 
Length, about 1 6 inches ; wing, 9^ ; culmen, 2^ ; tarsus, 2. 





7i. American Oyster-catcher. 



,avA> 



AMERICAN OYSTER-CATCHER. 

THE American Oyster-catcher is more a resident of 
A the shores of the South Atlantic States, and only 
an occasional visitor to the coast north of New Jersey. 
Formerly it was more abundant at the north, but at the 
present day on the beaches of Long Island it has 
become a rather rare bird, not often seen among the 
great flocks of waders that pass regularly along its sea- 
board in their migratory journeys. At all times it is a 
very shy and wary bird, exceedingly watchful and per- 
mitting no one to approach, but keeping itself at a safe 
distance from all known danger.' It haunts the seabeach, 
where it runs with great swiftness or walks in a stately 
manner, striking its powerful bill into the soil or sand 
in search of insects or fiddler crabs, on which it usually 
feeds. If an attempt be made to draw near to it when 
thus engaged, it ceases its occupation for a moment, and 
then, with a loud shrill cry, spreads its wings and flies 
off, generally going a long distance before stopping, fre- 
quently altogether out of sight. It is rather a solitary 
bird, going in pairs or in small companies, and is rarely 
seen away from the beach, in this respect being entirely 
different from its European relative, which frequents 
the banks of rivers in the interior. On the coast of 
Massachusetts and farther northward it can only be 
regarded as a straggler. The probable reason for this 
is the large summer population that now resorts to the 
seacoast, making its usual haunts liable to too much 
intrusion to suit so shy and timid a bird. I have never 

207 



208 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

known this species to come to decoys, although possibly 
it may do so in places where it has not been molested 
nor learned to fear its great enemy, man ; but some- 
times it is killed when flying along the beach, as it 
swings towards decoys set out to entrap its less wary 
relatives, the Plovers and Sandpipers, which frequent 
such localities. The majority of the specimens are 
procured by creeping or stalking them, when the ground 
is sufficiently favorable to admit of an approach near 
enough for a shot. They fly with rapid beating of the 
wings, and execute many and beautiful evolutions in 
the air, when small companies wheel and circle about 
actuated as by a common impulse, their large size and 
the shining white of the bodies and wings rendering 
them very conspicuous objects, and their well-trained, 
soldier-like movements affording a most pleasing and 
attractive sight. The nest is but a hollow in the 
ground, in which are deposited two or three eggs, 
cream color, blotched with dark brown, of an oval shape, 
measuring about 2^ inches in length by iS/ s in breadth. 
The female sits on them chiefly at night, trusting to 
the heat of the sun and sand to carry on the incubation 
during the day, as is the custom with other birds which 
lay their eggs in similar localities. The parents exhibit 
all the signs of great distress when they consider their 
treasures, of either eggs or young, in danger, flying 
about the intruder on their domain, uttering loud cries 
and endeavoring, with all artifices at their command, to 
lure him from the spot. The young run as soon 
as hatched, and are very skillful in concealing them- 
selves when danger approaches, squatting and remain- 
ing motionless, and they are so like the sand as to be 
practically invisible. On Long Island this species is 
called "Flood Gull," but it is generally known by the 



A M ERICA N OYS TER- CA TCHER. 209 

common appellation of Oyster-catcher, said to be given 
from the alleged habit of seizing the oysters when it 
finds them with the shell partly open. This bird is 
numerous on both coasts of South America, and has been 
seen in Patagonia where it was supposed to be breeding. 

HMMATOPUS PALLIA T US. 

Habitat. — Occasional on Atlantic Coast from Nova Scotia to New Jersey, 
thence southward to Brazil on the east, and from Lower California to Pata- 
gonia on the west ; Tres Marias, Bahamas, Cuba, and Galapagos Islands. 
Breeding in the islands and in most parts of its dispersion on the continent. 

Adult. — Head, neck, and upper part of breast, uniform black; back, 
wings, and center of rump, dark brown ; greater wing-coverts, and base of 
secondaries, sides of rump, upper tail-coverts, and entire under parts, pure 
white ; primaries, blackish brown, with purple reflections ; tail, white at base, 
remainder dark brown ; bill, vermilion ; legs and feet, pale flesh color ; 
iris, yellow. Length, 17 to 21 inches; wing, 10^ ; culmen, 3^ ; tarsus, 
2% ; middle toe, I 1 /.. 

The measurements of individuals vary considerably, and there is much 
difference often seen in length of bill and wing, but it is ahvays larger than 
the European bird, and there is no other species except, possibly, H. 
fraseri, in North America, with which it can be confounded. The differ- 
ences between these will be found in the article on Frazer's Oyster-catcher, 



FRAZER'S OYSTER-CATCHER. 

1\ A R. FRAZER obtained three specimens of this bird 
* ' * to the northward of La Paz, on the Gulf of Cali- 
fornia, and these comprise the foundation for this 
species. It was said to be common in the locality 
and evidently preparing to breed upon the sandy 
islands and shores of the gulf. It would seem de- 
sirable to compare more examples, not only with the 
common Oyster-catcher, but especially with the Gal- 
apagos bird, in order to arrive at an entirely sat- 
isfactory decision as to the exact status of this form. 
The description given below will enable^ any one who 
may have specimens from the Gulf of California to 
ascertain if they agree with those sent to Mr. Brewster. 
This bird has also been seen on Los Corronados Islands, 
San Quentin Bay, and Cerros Island ; also at Magdalena 
Bay, where it was common, and on Santa Margarita 
Island. They mated here in January, were shy, ran 
rapidly along the beach and took wing, uttering a loud, 
clear whistle, and after a short flight alighted at the 
water's edge. They fed upon small bivalves. 

HsEMA TO PUS FRASERI. 

Habitat — Western Mexico. 

Adult. — Similar to both the common Oyster-catcher and the species 
found in the Galapagos Islands. " Differing from the North American bird 
in having a stouter and more depressed bill, little or no white on the eye- 
lids ; the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts richer and deeper brown, the 
primaries and tail-feathers darker; the upper tail-coverts more or less 
varied with brown and white ; the lateral under tail-coverts marked with 
brown ; the bend of the wing and greater under primary coverts mottled 

210 




72. Frazar's Oyster-catcher. 






ERA ZER r S YS TER- CA TCHER. 211 

with black and white ; from the Galapagos species in the rather shorter 
bill and distinctly brown (instead of sooty black) back, scapulars, and 
wing-coverts, dark markings on the under tail-coverts, and greater amount 
of white on the under primary coverts ; from both the above-mentioned spe- 
cies in the broad zone of mottled black and white feathers extending across 
the breast. Extreme measurements, three specimens, all male: : wing, 9.75- 
10.27 5 tai ^ 3-9°-4- 2 6 ; tarsus, 2.18-2.30 ; bill, length from nostril, 2.35-2.37 ; 
from feathers, 2.99-3.05 ; depth at angle, 49.53." — Brewster, 



BLACK OYSTER-CATCHER. 

T^HE Black Oyster-catcher, while met with throughout 
* the Pacific Coast of North America, is most numer- 
ous in the north of its range, and is common in Alaska, 
where it is one of the characteristic birds of the sea- 
shore, and is also a summer resident of the Aleutian 
chain of islands. It appears to breed throughout its 
dispersion from the far north to Santa Barbara in Cali- 
fornia. Below our limits on the Pacific it meets, if it 
ever wanders so far to the south, the allied species or 
race, H. ater, of lower South America. I do not think, 
however, that there are any records of the two forms 
having been seen together, as the South American's 
northern limit is Chili. This bird in many localities 
exhibits all the shyness shown by other species of the 
genus, while again it has appeared tame and allowed 
one to approach quite near to it. It does not frequent 
sandy beaches so much as the other Oyster-catchers, 
being more partial to rocky shores, obtaining its food, 
consisting of different species of mollusks, and crus- 
taceans, from among the seaweed thrown up by the 
waves. The legs are short and feet powerful, enabling 
it to scramble easily over the slippery rocks, while the 
wedge-like bill is an admirable instrument for prying 
open the small bivalves. This bird has a curious habit 
of standing on some shelving rock and calling to another 
a little distance away, who replies to his friend, and this 
conversation is kept up for a long time, until their pe- 
culiar whistle becomes one of the familiar evidences of 
bird-life in the region it frequents. Its walk is graceful, 

212 




73- Black Oyster-catcher. 



BLACK OYSTER-CATCHER. 213 

slow, but somewhat stilted, and as it moves along, it is 
in the habit of bobbing its head, keeping time with its 
steps. It arrives in the Aleutian Islands in May, and 
in June the eggs are laid in a depression in the gravelly 
beach, perhaps near to some rocky cliff. The eggs are 
pale olive buff, speckled with brownish black or pur- 
plish gray, averaging in size 2^ by i}i inches. The 
Black Oyster-catcher is a noisy bird, and sometimes 
when they are numerous, their cries are sounded con- 
tinuously, and this habit seems to be indulged most 
frequently and persistently in the vicinity of their 
breeding places. In its general habits it resembles 
very closely its relatives found along the same coast, 
and it is occasionally seen in company with the common 
Oyster-catcher, or possibly with the newer form from 
Lower California. It is a large bird, and its somber, 
unattractive plumage is relieved, and its appearance ren- 
dered more acceptable, by the brightly colored bill and 
pale legs, affording a strong contrast to its mournful 
dress. 

HJEMA TO PUS BACHMANI. 

Habitat. — Pacific Coast of North America from Alaska, Commander and 
Kurile Islands to La Paz, Lower California. Breeding throughout its 
range. 

Adult. — Head and neck, black; entire rest of plumage, blackish brown ; 
bill, vermilion ; legs and feet, pale flesh color ; iris, yellow. Length, 1 7 
inches; wing, 9^; culmen, 2^; tarsus, i^f; middle toe, ij4. 






MEXICAN JACANA. 

r "FHIS Jacana is properly a native of countries lying 
* south of the border of the United States, but 
numerous examples have been procured in Texas along 
the valley of the Rio Grande. The first notice of its 
occurrence within our limits is recorded in the Bulletin 
of the Nuttall Ornithological Club for 1876, when Dr. 
Merrill saw some near Fort Brown, in Texas, and 
wounded one, but did not secure it. It is a very 
active bird, continually on the move, running over the 
floating leaves of the various water plants that carpet 
with green the surface of ponds and lakes, raising its 
wings as if to lessen even its light weight, the long 
toes spreading out and covering a large part of the 
great leaf of the lily. The young follow the parents as 
soon as hatched, and the male assists the female in 
rearing them. They are very pugnacious in defending 
their chicks, and also very bold, approaching an in- 
truder quite close, and uttering loud cries of defiance, 
very comical in so small a bird, although doubtless the 
spur on the wing could then be employed with very 
uncomfortable results. These birds are difficult to 
secure when shot, for usually the plants, on the leaves 
of which they run about, are in too deep water for any 
one to wade, and a boat is necessary to reach them. 
The difference of plumage between young and old is so 
great that they might easily be regarded as belonging 
to two distinct species. The nest of the Jacana is flat 
and formed of grasses interwoven beneath so as to float 
upon the water. The eggs are dark olive, marked with 

214 



MEXICA N JACANA. 215 

black or dark-brown blotches and streaks, measuring 
about 1% inches in length by i in breadth. 

JACANA SPINOSA. 

Habitat. — Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Mexico, Panama, and Co- 
lombia, South America ; Cuba, Hayti. 

Aditlt. — Head, neck, upper part of back and breast, black, with green and 
purple reflections ; lower back and wings, purplish chestnut ; primaries and 
secondaries, pale yellowish green, bordered on first with blackish brown ; 
rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail, dark purple ; lower portion of breast and 
flanks, dull maroon ; abdomen, thighs, and under tail-coverts, dull brownish 
maroon ; frontal leaf or wattle divided into three lobes on top, broad above, 
narrowing where it joins the forehead, red or orange in life ; base of man- 
dible, bluish white, with a space of carmine between it and the wattle ; rest 
of bill, bright yellow ; spur on wing, long and sharp at point ; legs and 
feet, dull olive. Total length, 9 inches; wing, 5^; tail, 2% ; bill, iyi; 
tarsus, 2j4' 

Young. — Top of head and nape, pale brown, a yellowish white stripe 
from base of maxilla to nape ; black stripe behind the eye, widening as it 
goes and passing down the side of neck and crossing upper part of back ; 
back and wings, pale bronzy brown ; primaries and secondaries, like the 
adult ; rump and upper tail-coverts, purple ; tail, purplish black ; frontal 
wattle, rudimentary ; chin, throat, sides and front of neck, and entire under 
parts, white, with a strong buff tinge on the upper part of breast ; bill, 
yellow, blue at base ; feet and legs, olive, 



APPENDIX 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES. 



I. Toes of moderate length ; claws normal. 

A. Toes with a more or less lateral membrane 
sometimes scalloped. 

a. Bill slender and pointed, or flattened and 1 
blunt ; legs short, compressed ; sides flat- 
tened. 

B. Toes without lateral membrane. 

a. Bill straight, or upturned at tip ; legs not 
flattened, very long ; tarsus more than twice 
the length of hind toe and claw. 

C. Front of tarsus covered by transverse scales ; 
hind toe almost always present. 

a. Bill slender, variable in length and shape, ~| 

frequently flexible, sensitive, blunt or rounded 
at tip ; toes cleft to the base or partly j 
webbed. 

b. Bill rather stout, wedge-shaped, pointed 1 

at tip, about equal to tarsus, deep at j- 
base. 

D. Front of tarsus covered by small hexagonal 
scales ; hind toe usually absent. 

a. Bill slender, straight, basal part of culmen 

depressed, anterior portion arched ; always 
shorter than tarsus. 

b. Bill longer than tarsus, much flattened 

especially towards the tip, like a paper- 
cutter ; basal web between outer and 
middle toes. 

II. Toes and claws excessively lengthened ; sharp 
spur on bend of wing. 



PHALAROPES. 

Phalaropodidce. 

Page 21. 

AVOCETS AND 

STILTS. 

RecurvirostridcB. 

Page 32, 



WOODCOCKS AND 

SNIPES. 

Scolopacidce. 
Page 37. 

TURNSTONES. 

Aphrizidce. 
Page 197. 



PLOVERS. 

CharadriidcE. 
Page 163. 

OYSTER- 
CATCHERS. 

Hcematopodidce. 
Page 205. 

JACANAS. 

JacanidcB. 
Page 214. 



THE PHALAROPES. 

FAMILY PHALAROPODLDiK 

The birds comprised in this family are distinguished 
from all waders by having lateral membranes (usually 
scalloped) to the toes, similar to those possessed by the 
Grebes (Colymbits), and Coots (Fulica). There are only 
three species known, one of which is exclusively Amer- 
ican. Apparently built for an aquatic existence, they 
possess with their lobed feet, a narrow, flat, com- 
pressed leg, and a thickened duck-like plumage to resist 
dampness and afford buoyancy and lightness to the 
body, and so render possible the quick, active move- 
ments which characterize the species when floating on 
the surface of the water. Three genera are here recog- 
nized, distinguished as follows : 

KEY TO GENERA. 

A . Toes with broad-scalloped lateral membranes. 

a. Bill broad, flattened, stout ; nostrils not near ] red 

frontal feathers ; central tail-feathers half an \- phalarope. 
inch longer than outermost. I Crymophilus . 

b. Bill slender, narrow, pointed; nostrils near 1 NORTHERN 

frontal feathers ; central tail feathers not V PHALAROPE. 
half an inch longer than outermost. I Phalaropus. 



WILSON'S 
PHALAROPE. 



B. Toes with narrow, even, lateral membranes, not 

scalloped. . 

r J Steganopus. 

221 



222 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

There are either three recognizable genera in this 
family or only one genus. The Red Phalarope has been 
separated from the others on account of its broad, some- 
what flattened bill, which is certainly very different in 
form from that of the Northern and Wilson's Phala- 
ropes, which have a slender, delicate, and pointed bill. 
The lateral membrane of the toes, however, of the Red 
and Northern Phalaropes is similar, being wide and 
deeply scalloped at the joints, while that of Wilson's is 
narrow and without scallops. This seems to be as 
good a generic character as the bill, and if the Red is 
separated generically from the other two by the form 
of the latter, but agreeing with the Northern in the 
form of the lateral membrane, the Northern and Wil- 
son's, though agreeing in the form of the bill, are 
equally separated generically by the shape of the lat- 
eral membrane of the toes. Regarding these charac- 
ters as of equal generic importance, I have retained 
the species in three genera, restoring Steganopus, 
which has been suppressed in the A. O. U. check list. 
Stejneger, in his article on Phalaropus in the Auk, vol. 
ii., 1885, p. 183, does not refer to Stegajiopus at all, 
and makes no mention of the above differences between 
the Northern and Wilson's Phalaropes. 

GENUS CRYMOPHILUS 
(Greek Kpvj.i6a, krumos, ice cold, <pi\eo, flhileo, to love). 

Crymophilus, Vieill, Analyse, 1816, p. 62. Type, Tringa fulicaria. 
Linn. 

Bill broad, straight, flattened, nostrils near the base of maxilla, linear ; 
tarsus, scutellated in front and behind ; small hind toe present ; marginal 
membrane of toes broad, scalloped at joints ; web between outer and 
middle toe extending beyond second joint of latter. 



THE PHALAROPES. 223 

One species only known, inhabiting both Old and New Worlds, and 
breeding in high latitudes. 

GENUS PHALAROPUS 
(Greek (paXap6itv6, phalaropus, coot-foot). 

Phalaropus, Briss, Orn., vol. vi., 1760, p. 12. Type, Tringa lobata. 
Linn. 

Bill slender, lengthened, pointed ; nostrils basal ; marginal web on toes 
as in Crymophilus. 

One species only known, inhabiting both hemispheres in their northern 
portions, breeding in Arctic regions. 

GENUS STEGANOPUS 
(Greek err ey av oitv cr , steganopus, web-foot). 

Steganopus, Vieill, Nouv. Diet. F *" Nat., vol. xxxii., 1819, p. 136. 
Type, S. tricolor. (Vieill.) 

Bill similar to Phalaropus, but longer ; wt. -'tween outer and middle 
toe not reaching to second joint; lateral membra_.e narrow and barely 
scalloped. 

One species known, restricted to America, largest of the family, of 
graceful and delicate form, with longer legs and better pioportions than 
the others. 



THE AVOCETS AND STILTS. 

FAMILY RECURVIROSTRID^E. 

The two North American species of this family are, 
like their congeners in other parts of the world, rather 
large birds, remarkable chiefly for the shape of the 
bill, and the excessively long slender legs, which give 
to one of the species its trivial name, since it has 
the appearance of being elevated on a pair of stilts. 
One bird has the toes semi-palmated, and it is also 
noted for having the bill turned upward towards the 
point. The family is represented throughout the 
world by about a dozen species. Two genera are rec- 
ognized as follows : 

A . Hind toe present. Anterior toes webbed. Bill ] avocet. 

recurved. J Recurvirostra. 

B. Hind toe absent. Small web only between middle ) stilt. 

and outer toe. Bill straight. J Himantopus. 

GENUS RECURVIROSTRA 
(Latin recurvus, bent upward, rostrum, bill.) 

Recurvirostra, Linn, Syst. Nat., vol. i., 1758, p. 151. Type, R. avocetta. 
Linn. 

Bill long, slender, tapering, curved upward for a third of its length from 
the tip, which is slightly decurved. Hind toe present; anterior toes 
webbed. Legs very long; tarsus reticulated, covered with small hex- 
agonal scales. 

Four species of avocets are known scattered about the world, only one, 
however, being a native of North America. They are birds of singular 

224 



THE A VOCETS AND STILTS 225 

appearance, with their curved-up bills and long legs, and are remarkable 
for their peculiar mode of feeding. 

GENUS HIMANTOPUS 

(Greek ijuavro7tov(T, himantopus, strap-leg.) 

Himantopus, Briss, Orn., vol. v., 1760, p. 33. Type, Charadrius 
himantopus. Linn. 

Bill straight, higher than broad, of moderate length. Hind toe absent. 
Outer and middle toe only connected by web. Legs very long, slender; 
thigh bare for a distance, and half as long as tarsus, which is nearly twice 
the length of middle toe. 

There are about seven recognized species of Stilts, only one of which, 
however, is included in the North American fauna. It is chiefly noted for 
i^s excessively long legs, which seem hardly capable of upholding the 
body of the bird. It, however, walks well and runs easily, and when fly- 
ing, which it does with firm even beats of the wings, the legs extend far 
beyond the tail. 






WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 

FAMILY SCOLOPACID^E. 

This is the largest family of the waders, comprising 
about twenty species known to be natives of, or vis- 
itors to, North America. The vast majority of the 
birds seen running along our sea beaches, or probing 
the salt meadows and muddy tracts left bare by the 
tide, belong to this family. They are gregarious, asso- 
ciate and travel in large flocks, mostly migrants within 
the boundaries of the United States, and are noted for 
their graceful forms, attractive plumage of generally 
subdued colors, and gentle confiding dispositions, as 
well in some especial instances for the palatable qual- 
ity of their flesh. To sportsmen they are the means of 
affording both with the dog or over decoys, most 
agreeable recreation with the gun, while a study of 
their habits yields much pleasure to many. Even the 
most inappreciative person can not regard without 
admiration the swift and graceful movements of many 
species of this family, as with easy flight they wheel 
and circle around him. They are the most attractive 
of all our dwellers by the sea. 

The genera of this family here adopted amount 
to thirteen, some of which contain one or more sub- 
genera, as Triitga, Totanus, etc. A number of the gen- 
era approach closely to each other, and it is not always 
easy to enumerate characters sufficiently trench- 
ant by which those who are not ornithologists can 

226 



WO OD CO CKS A ND SNIP E S. 227 

always recognize one from the other, but I have en- 
deavored in tne table here given to diagnose these in 
such a manner as I trust will enable anyone, even if 
unfamiliar with a scientific method, to ascertain to 
what genus any bird included in this family, which he 
may obtain, shall belong. The general appearance of 
the members of the Scolopacidce vary greatly both in 
whole or in part. The bill may be long, short, slender, 
stout, turned up at the end, or downward from the 
middle ; narrow at the point, or, as in one genus, ex- 
panded like a spoon. The legs also may be stout or 
slender, short or greatly lengthened, covered with 
broad scales behind and before, or with broad in front 
and small hexagonal ones behind. The toes too may 
be all partly webbed, or a web present at the base be- 
tween two toes, or no web at all. Also the hind toe 
may be present, (as is usually the case), or absent en- 
tirely. And between these extremes are intermediate 
genera with allied characters, making the task of clearly 
defining them all difficult and perplexing. 

KEY TO THE GENERA. 

I. Ears placed beneath the eye. Plumage 
same at all seasons. 
A. Bill straight, longer than tarsus and 
middle toe. 

a. Markings on top of the head, trans- 
verse. 

a 1 . Under surface of tail feathers, 
with silvery white tips. 

a\ First three primaries longest, 1 E ™OPEAN woodcock. 
broad, of normal shape. \ Scolopax. 

Page 37. 



228 



NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 



b' 2 . First three primaries short- 1 
est, attenuated, slightly 
curved. 

b. Markings on top of the head, longi- 
tudinal. 

a 1 . Under surface of tail feathers 
with pale buff tips. 

II. Ears placed behind the eye. Plumage 
changing with the seasons. 
A. Bill straight, longer than tarsus and 
middle toe. 



AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 

Philohela. 
Page 39. 



SNIPE. 

Gallinago. 
Page 44. 



a. Outer and middle toe connected 
by web at base. 



DOWITCHERS. 

Macro}' hamphus. 
Page 52. 



B. Bill straight or slightly curved, 
shorter than tarsus and middle toe. 
a. Anterior toes webbed. 

a 1 . Back of tarsus with transverse 
scales. 

a' 2 . Central tail feathers longest. 
Tail graduated. 



a 3 . Tarsus twice as long as 
middle toe. 



STILT SANDPIPER. 

Micropalama. 
Page 60. 



b' A . Tarsus less than twice the 
length of middle toe. 



SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. 

Ereunetes. 
Page 97. 



b 2 . Central tail feathers not length- 
ened ; tail round. Tarsus half 
as long again as middle toe. 



WILLETS. 

Symphemia. 
Page 129. 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 



229 



b. Anterior toes cleft to the base. 
a 1 . Hind toe present. 

a 1 . Difference between length of 
the longest and shortest prim- 
ary greater than length of bill. 
First primary longer than 
fourth. Nostrils not reaching 
beyond basal fourth of length 
of bill. 



Inner web of primaries uni- 
form, not mottled. 



SANDPIPERS. 
Tringa. 
Page 63. 



b 3 . Inner web of 
mottled. 



primaries 



BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER. 
Tryngitis. 
Page 144. 



b 1 . Hind toe absent. 



SANDERLING. 

Calidris. 
Page 102. 






c. Middle and outer toe united at base 
by a web. 
a. Back of tarsus with scales like the 
front. 
a 1 . Frontal feathers extending be- 
yond the base of gape. 

a 1 . Tail rounded about half the ] 
length of wing. Lateral I 
groove* on bill, extending 
about half the length. 

ft. Tail rounded, much less 
than half the length of 
wing. Lateral groove on 
bill extending nearly to 
the tip. 



TATTLERS. 
Tot anus. 
Page 115. 



3ill over y$ length of ^ 


GODWITS. 


wing ; turned up to- \ 


Limosa. 


ward tip. ) 


Page 105 



230 



NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 



b 1 . Bill straight, less than 
i -5 length of wing. 

r 2 . Tail, more than half the 
length of wing. 

a 1 . Tail graduated. 



b 1 . Tail rounded. 

b. Back of tarsus covered by hexa- 
gonal scales. 

C. Bill very long, greatly curved from 

base. Toes cleft; back of tarsus 
covered with hexagonal scales. 

D. Bill much widened and flattened 
at tip, its width at this part half 
the length of exposed culmen. 
Toes cleft. 



RUFF. 

Pavoncella. 
Page 136. 



UPLAND PLOVER. 

Bartramia. 

Page 141. 

SPOTTED SANDPIPER. 

Actitis. 
Page 147. 

WANDERING TATTLER. 

Heterac litis. 
Page 134. 



CURLEWS. 

Nwnenius. 

Page 151. 



SPOON-BILLED SANDPIPER. 

Eurynorhynch us. 
Page 95. 



GENUS SCOLOPAX 
(Latin Scolopax, a snipe). 

Scolopax, Linn, Syst. Nat., vol. i., 1758, p. 145. Type, S.rusticola. 
Linn. 

Body robust. Bill long, twice the length of tarsus. Primaries normal, 
first one longest. Tarsus scutellated both in front and behind. 

This and the succeeding genus comprise the four known species of 
woodcock. Those of the genus Scolopax are recognizable by the broad 
primaries, from the American species. Only one, the European woodcock, 
represents the genu", in North America, where it can only, be considered as 
a straggler. 

GENUS PHILOHELA 

(Greek (piXocr., philos, loving, eXocr, helos, a bog). 

Philohela, Gray, List Genera, 1841, p. 90. Type, Scolopax minor. 
Gmel. 

The single species of the present genus can be distinguished from the 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 231 

other Woodcock of the genus Scolopax by the shape of the first three prim- 
aries, which are narrow and attenuated, curving slightly inwards. It is a 
smaller bird than its European relative, and of better flavor. 

Only one species is known in North America, our familiar Timber- 
doodle, or Woodcock. 

GENUS GALLINAGO 
(Latin gallina, a hen). 

Gallinago, Leach, Syst. Cat. Brit. Mamm. & Birds, 1816, p. 31. Type, 
Scolopax major. Linn. 

Bill long, slender, straight, depressed at tip, which is flexible. Bare, part 
of thigh, scutellated before and behind, and reticulated on the sides like 
the tarsus. Middle toe longer than tarsus. Toes cleft to base. Tail of 
from twelve to twenty-six feathers; the North American species having 
usually sixteen. Plumage same in both winter and summer. 

The species of this genus are about fifteen, scattered throughout the 
world, some being large, fine birds. Of the two species in the American 
fauna, one is indigenous to the country, the other is a straggler from 
Europe. 

The Snipes, as they are called, as distinguished from others of their 
tribe, are shy, solitary birds, active at night, frequenting marshy ground, 
which they probe with their long bills in search of worms, etc., and have a 
swift, rapid, and erratic flight. They do not go in flocks like other waders, 
though at times many may be found congregated on one stretch of marshy 
ground. 

KEY TO SPECIES. 

A . Markings on head longitudinal. Tips of under sur- 
face of tail feathers, pale buff. 

a. Tail with fourteen feathers. } ENGLISH SNIPE " 

i G. gallinago. 

t t> -i 'tx. • 4. r 4.1. 1 WILSON'S SNIPE. 

b. Tail with sixteen feathers. V 

t G. delicata. 

GENUS MACRORHAMPHUS 
(Greek ficcKpoti, makros, long, paju<pod, rhamphos, beak). 

Macrorhamphus, Leach, Syst. Cat. Brit. Mamm. & Birds, 18 16, p. 31. 
Type, Scolopox griseus. Gmel. 

Similar to Gallinago, but at once distinguished by the web between the 
outer and middle toe at the base. Bill long, flattened and expanded at the 



232 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. : 

tip. Tarsus longer than middle toe. Plumage in winter and summer, very 
different. 

Two species comprise this genus, both indigenous to North America. 
They are similar in form to the species of Gallinago, but more slender, and 
with comparative longer bills and legs. The partly webbed foot at once 
differentiates the two genera. The habits are those of the waders, rather 
than of the snipes. They go in flocks, and inhabit marshy tracts near the 
sea, or in one species, the Long-billed Dowitcher, the banks of lagoons and 
rivers of the interior. 

KEY TO SPECIES. 
A. Rump and upper tail-coverts, white, 

barred with black. Basal web between 

outer and middle toe. 

a. Abdomen and under tail-coverts, ") dowitcher . 
white, latter barred with black. J M. griseus. 

b. Entire under parts, cinnamon, un- "I LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. 
der tail-coverts barred with black. / M. scolopaceous. 

GENUS MICROPALAMA 

(Greek juiKpod, mikros, small, itaXafiT], palame, a web). 

Micropalama, Baird, B. N., Amer., 1858, p. 726. Type, Tringa himan- 
topus. Bon. 

Body slender ; bill long, slender, straight, compressed, expanded at tip. 
Legs very long ; tarsus twice as long as middle toe ; thighs scutellated like 
the tarsus. Anterior toes all webbed at the base. Central tail feathers 
longer than the lateral ones. Wings long and pointed. 

One species only is known belonging to this genus, a native of North 
America, migrating south in winter. More delicately formed than are the 
members of the preceding genus, it is yet closely allied to them, goes in 
flocks, frequents similar kinds of ground, and resembles the Dowitchers 
in its general habits. It is, however, not so often met with, and is alto- 
gether a rarer species, especially in its summer dress, individuals in that 
plumage being seldom seen. 

GENUS TRINGA 

(Latin Tringa, a sandpiper). 

Tringa, Linn, Syst. Nat., vol. i., 1758, p. 148. Type, T. canutus. 
Linn. 

Bill straight, short, rather stout, widened near the tip, slightly longer 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 



233 



than head. Tarsus short, nearly equal to middle toe and claw. Wings 
long and pointed, reaching beyond the tail in some species ; difference be- 
tween the length of the longest and shortest primary greater than length of 
bill. Inner web of primaries not mottled. Tarsus scutellated before and 
behind, and all species possess a hind toe. No webs between toes. 

This genus is nearly a cosmopolitan one, containing a considerable num- 
ber of species, about twelve of which are natives of, or visitors to, North 
America. They are dwellers of the sea coast and marshes near the ocean, 
are usually of small size, and have a powerful well-sustained flight, and run 
and walk swiftly and gracefully. Tringa has five subgenera, viz. : Tringa, 
Arquatella, Actodromus, Pelidna and Ancylocheilus ; the first with tarsus 
and middle toe about equal, and bill straight; the second with tarsus 
shorter than middle toe and claw ; the third and fourth with tarsus longer 
than the same, and the last with tarsus and middle toe about equal, and 
bill considerably curved. The key will enable any one to determine the 
species, which are there indicated in summer plumage. 

KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

A. Wing shorter than, or not reaching 
to, end of tail. 
a. Bill longer than tarsus, straight, or 
slightly curved downward. 

a}. Bill straight, rather stout. \ 

b x . Bill slightly curved at tip, rather 
slender. 



KNOT, 
T. canutus. 



No black on breast. 
; 3 . Breast feathers in summer 
gray, margined with white. 



PURPLE SANDPIPER. 

T. mar Mm a. 



Breast feathers in summer 
margined with buff. 



COUES 
ALEUTIAN SANDPIPER. 

T. m. couesi. 



V 1 . Black on breast. I 

b. Bill about equal to tarsus, straight. 
a 1 . Lower neck and breast deep ] 
buff or rufous, legs and feet [■ 
greenish yellow. 



PRYBILOFF SANDPIPER. 

T. m. i>tilocne?nis. 



SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER. 

T, acuminata. 



234 



NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 



b 1 . Lower neck and breast spotted 
or streaked. Legs and feet 
black. 

a 1 . Flanks brown, streaked with 
brownish black. 

a 3 . Size large. Wing over 5 l / 2 
inches. 

b 3 . Size smaller. Wing less 
than 5^ inches. 

ft 1 . Flanks white streaked with 
black. 

r 2 . Flanks pure white, sometimes 
tinged with buff. 
c. Bill shorter than tarsus. 

a 1 . Sides and front of neck buff, ) 
streaked with blackish. J 

b x . Sides and front of neck white, -j 
streaked with brownish black. J 

B. Wings reaching beyond end of tail. 
a. Bill much curved towards point. 
a 1 . Upper tail-coverts dusky. Belly 
black. 

a 1 . Wing 4.30 to 4.75. Red on ■* 
back dull. j 

P. Wing 4.60 to 4.95. Red on 
back bright. 

b x . Upper tail-coverts white. Belly 
cinnamon rufous. 



cooper's sandpiper. 
T. cooperi. 

PECTORAL SANDPIPER. 
T. maculata. 

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. 

T. fuscicollis. 

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. 

T. bairdii. 



LONG-TOED STINT. 
T. damacensis. 

LEAST SANDPIPER. 

T. minutilla. 



DUNLIN. 
T. alpina. 

RED-BACKED SANDPIPER. 

T. a. pacifica. 

CURLEW SANDPIPER. 
T. subarquata. 



SUBGENUS ARQUATELLA. 

(Latin diminutive of arcuata, bowed). 

Arquatella Baird, B. N. Am. 1858, p. 717. Type Tringa maritima. 
Briinn. 

Form very compact or robust, the legs especially. Tarsus shorter than 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 235 

the middle toe with claw, the latter two-thirds to three-fourths as long as 
the bill, which is slender, much compressed, straight or very slightly de- 
curved at the end. 

In the A. O. U. check list three species are included under this sub- 
genus, but it is very questionable if two of them, Coues' Sandpiper ( T. 
couesi), and Prybiloff Sandpiper, ( T. ptilo enemy s), are entitled even to a 
sub-specific rank. Their alleged characters do not seem to hold good when 
a series of specimens are examined, and all that can be said of them is 
that T. couesi is lighter generally than T. maritima and T. ptilocne?nys 
is lighter than either. Dimensions cannot be relied on, as the various 
parts differ greatly even in specimens from the same locality. T. Ptiloc- 
nemys was supposed to be confined to the Prybiloff Islands, in Behring 
Sea, but it is now known to inhabit a number of other islands, and to visit 
in winter the coast of Alaska, on the west, and the Kurile Islands on the 
east, and it is difficult to believe that it is a distinct species from its ally 
inhabiting similar areas. In the words of Seebohm, Charadriidoe, p. 431, 
" Such a geographical anomaly can only be accepted provisionally, pending 
further information." And as regards this form I would endorse the fol- 
lowing statement of Baird, Brewer and Ridgway, B. N. Am. Water Birds, 
vol. 1, p. 223: "We therefore, all things considered, look upon the 
present bird ( T. m. ptilocnemys), as being merely a local insular (?) race 
of a species of which A. Couesi represents the resident form of the coast 
of Alaska and the Aleutian chain, and from which A. maritima is perhaps 
not specifically distinct." For convenience I retain Couesi and ptilocnemys 
as subspecific forms. 

SUBGENUS ACTODROMUS. 
(Greek aKTrj, akte, seashore, dpojudd, dromas, running). 

Actodromus, Kaup. Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw. 1829, p. 37. Type Tringa 
minuta. Leisl. 

Bill, slender, and little if any longer than the tarsus. The latter longer 
than middle toe and claw. Toes, slender, completely cleft. Wings, long^ 
pointed. 

SUBGENUS PELIDNA. 
(Greek 7tsA.iSvo6, pelidnos, gray). 

Pelidna Cuv. Regn. Anim. 181 7, p. 490. 1829, p. 526. Type Tringa 
alpina. Linn. 



236 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Bill, slender, longer than tarsus, which is longer than middle toe. Bill 
decurved at the tip. 

S UB GENUS A NC YI CHI I US. 

(Greek, ayKv\6x£i^o6, agkulocheilus, curved bill). 

Ancylochilus, Kaup. Ent Eur. Thierw., 1829, p. 50. Type Tringa 
ferruginea, Briinn. 

Bill, similar to Pelidna, but much more curved. 

GENUS EURYNORHYNCHUS 
(Greek £vpvvoo,euruno, I dilate, pvxod, rhugchos, beak). 

Eurynorhynchus, Nilss, Orn. Suec, vol. ii., 1821, p. 29. Type, Plata- 
lea pygm cea . Linn . 

Bill spatulate, spoon-shaped, three times as wide near the tip as it is at 
the base. Toes not webbed. Size of body small, rather short, rounded. 

One singular species composes this genus, the curious Spoon-bill Sand- 
piper, accidental on our western shores, a straggler from Asia. It is at 
once recognizable from all the waders by its singularly formed bill, that 
spreads greatly towards the tip, and gives that member the shape from 
which it derives its trivial name. 

GENUS EREUNETES 
(Greek kpEvrrfrr}6, ereunetes, a prober). 

Ereunetes, Illiger, Prodromus, 181 1, p. 262. Type, Tringa tusilla. 
Linn. 

Anterior toes webbed at the base ; hind toe present. Bill slightly ex- 
panded at tip, about as long as tarsus. Size small. 

Two species are known, among the smallest of the Sandpipers, inhabiting 
North America. Some authors include the species of Macrorhamphus and 
Macropalama in the present genus, but there is no doubt that sufficient 
characters exist to separate generically the birds arranged under these three 
divisions. 

The Peeps are among the most numerous of the Sandpipers, as well as 
the smallest, and familiar to every one who has tramped over the salt 
marshes and mud flats adjacent to the sea. 

Their habits and flight are like those of the other members of the tribe. 
The species may be defined as follows : 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 237 

Size, small. Feathers of back margined with buff or cinnamon. Front 
toes webbed at base. 

Culmen, .68 to .92 inches. } semipalmated sandpiper 



Culmen, .85 to I.15 inches. V 



E. pusillus. 

WESTERN SANDPIPER. 

E. occidentalis. 



GENUS CALIDRIS 
(Greek KaXidpid, calidris, name of some beach bird). 

Calidris, Cuv. Lee. Anat. Comp., vol. v., 1805, Tabl. ii. Type, Tringa 
arenaria. Linn. 

Characters similar to those of Tringa, but the hind toe is wanting. Bill 
straight, slightly broadened at the tip. Middle toe barely two-thirds the 
length of tarsus. No web on the foot. 

Only one species is known, distributed generally throughout the world, 
and easily distinguished from all other Sandpipers by having no hind toe, in 
this respect resembling the Plovers. 

GENUS LIMOSA. 
(Limus mud, mire). 

Limosa, Brisson, Orn. vol. v. 1760, p. 261. Type, Scolopax limosa. 
Linn. 

Bill, long, grooved, curving slightly upward towards the tip, which is 
not attenuated, and exceeding the tarsus in length, and over one-third length 
of wing, with lateral groove extending nearly to the tip. Tarsus, transversely 
scutellated behind and before, reticulated laterally. - Middle and outer toes, 
united by a membrane at the base, extending to the first joint on the outer, 
basal on the inner toe. 

The Godwits are rather large birds, remarkable for their long bills, 
which have a slight upward tendency towards the tip. This part of the 
maxilla is somewhat thickened and extends beyond the end of the mandi- 
ble. They are shore birds, but are often found far inland, where they 
frequently breed. The genus contains but few species, four only being 
recognized as belonging to the North American Fauna. The following 
key will designate the species : 



238 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

A. Rump and upper tail-coverts buff, -\ marbled godwit. 
diagonally barred with dark brown, j L. fedoa. 

B. Rump dark brown, bordered with 
white ; upper tail-coverts white, 
barred with dark brown. 

C. Rump black. Upper tail-coverts 

white. 

a. Axillaries brownish black. 

b. Axillaries white. 



PACIFIC GODWIT. 
L. I. batter i. 



HUDSONIAN GODWIT. 

L. hizmastica. 

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT. 

L. limosa 



GENUS TO TAN US. 
(Italian totano, name of a bird). 

Totanus, Bechst, Orn. Tasch. Deutschl, 1803, p. 282. Type Scolapax 
toianus. Linn. 

Bill, slender, straight, or slightly inclined upward at the tip, shorter 
than tarsus, lateral groove of maxilla extending over basal half. Toes, 
with small webs at base. Tarsus, half as long as middle toe, but twice as 
long for subgenus Glottis, and nearly equal in length for subgenus Rhya- 
cophilus. The back covered with scales like the front. 

This genus is represented throughout the world. Its members frequent 
seacoasts as well as inland pools and banks of rivers, breeding generally 
inland and in Arctic or Antarctic regions. They walk gracefully, run 
swiftly, and have a firm, well sustained and rapid flight. They swim 
easily, and some can even dive. The note is a clear, musical whistle, and 
they are usually very gentle and confiding. The nest is a depression in the 
ground. It has two subgenera, Glottis and Rhyacophilus, the former in- 
cluding the so-called Yellow-legs or Tattlers, and the latter the Solitary 
Sandpipers ; the slight characters distinguishing them are given above. 

The following table will enable the various species recognized in North 
America to be easily distinguished : 

KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

A. Upper tail-coverts white, barred 
with black. 
a. Rump brownish black, feathers 
edged with grayish white. 

Legs yellow. 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 239 

a 1 . Bill over two inches in ) greater yellow-legs. 

length. J T. melanoleucus. 

b x . Bill less than two inches, ") little yellow-legs. 

about one and a half. / T. flavipes. 

I. Rump white. Legs and feet \ greenshank. 

greenish yellow. / T. littoreus. 
B. Middle upper tail-coverts black- 
ish brown, spotted on margin 
with white. 

a. Spots on upper parts and wings ") solitary sandpiper. 

white. J T. solitarius. 

b. Spots on upper parts and wings ") western solitary sandpiper. 

brownish cinnamon. J T. s. cinnamomeus. 



C. Upper tail-coverts pure white. 



green sandpiper. 
T. ochropus. 



SUBGENUS GLOTTIS 
(Greek yXGorra, glotta, the tongue). 

Glottis, Koch, Baier, Zool., 1816, p. 304. Type, Totanus glottis. 
Bechst. 

Middle toe half as long as tarsus. 

S UB GEN US RH YA COP NIL US 
(Greek pva%, hruax, a brook, (piXod, p kilos, loving). 

Rhyacophilus, Kaup. Sk. Ent. Eur. Thierw., 1839, p. 140. Type 
Tringa glareola. Linn. 
Middle toe as long as tarsus. 

GENUS SYMPHEMIA 
(Greek 6vptq)T])J.i y snmphemi,'\ speak with). 

Symphemia, Raffmesque, Jour, de Phys., vol. vii., 1819, p. 418. Type, 
Scolopax semipalmata. Gmel. 

Bill stout, straight, strong, compressed laterally. Feathers falling short 
of the nostrils, going a little farther forward on mandible than on maxilla. 
Bill about equal to tarsus, the latter half as long again as middle toe. Base 
of all toes webbed. Wings long, pointed. Tail rounded. 

One species of this genus only is known, with one subspecies, if it is 
really sufficiently distinguishable to entitle it to such recognition. The 
Willet is among the largest of this family excepting the Godwits and some 



240 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

of the Curlews. It is distributed in its two forms over the whole of tem- 
perate North America, and is a conspicuous and well known member of 
the waders. The genus is not represented in the Old World. 

A. Upper parts grayish brown, blotched withl 
black. Under tail-coverts white, barred with \ 

dark brown. Culmen, 2% inches. J S ' se ™P* lm *ta. 

B. Upper parts grayish drab, faintly marked with I 

Ui 1 tt J * -1 4. uv c ■ *i I WESTERN WILLET. 

black. Under tail-coverts pure white or faintly y 

barred with brown. Culmen, 2%, inches. J S - speculifera. 

GENUS HE TERA OTITIS 
(Greek erEpocr, heteros, different, &KT7}, akte, seashore). 

Heteractitis, Stejneger, Auk, 1884, p. 236. Type, Scolopax incanus. 
Gmel. 

This genus, signifying an inhabitant of " different shores " from two 
Greek words, contains but two species, only one of which at present is in- 
cluded in our fauna. The characters of the genus are : Bill straight, 
rather stout, longer than tarsus, with the nasal groove extending over the 
basal two-thirds. Tarsus covered laterally and behind with hexagonal 
scales, and tibia likewise covered with similar scales, differing in this re- 
spect from the other species of Totanece. Outer and middle toe connected 
by web, reaching to first joint of the latter ; and middle and inner toes by a 
rudimentary web. Hind toe nearly one-third the length of tarsus. They 
are rather solitary birds, inhabiting rocky shores. 

GENUS PA VON CELL A. 
(Diminutive of Pavo, peacock). 

Pavoncella, Leach, Syst. Cat. Brit. Mamm. & B., 1816, p. 29. Type 
Tringa pttgnax. Linn. 

Bill, straight, tapering, point flattened, higher than broad at base, one-fifth 
length of wing ; nasal groove extending nearly to the end ; nostrils basal, 
linear ; first primary, longest ; legs, long, slender ; thigh, bare for one-third 
its length ; tarsus, one and a quarter as long as middle toe, scutellate, outer 
and middle toes connected at base by a web. Face of male in summer 
covered with fleshy tubercles, and neck covered by a ruff of lengthened 
feathers. 

But one species of this genus is known, a native of the Old World, where 
it has a wide distribution ; stragglers occasionally visit North America, 
records of which are sufficiently numerous to cause the adoption of the 



WOODCOCKS AND SNIPES. 241 

species into our fauna. It is remarkable for the great diversity of color 
and pattern of markings in the plumage of the male in breeding dress, and 
for various curious habits. 

GENUS BARTRAMIA. 
(In honor of Wm. Bartram). 

Bartramia, Less. Trait. Ornith. i83i,p. 553. Type, Tringa longicauda. 
Bechst. 

Bill, long, slender, nearly as long as head, straight, grooved nearly to 
tip ; nostrils, near the base, linear ; wings, long, pointed ; tail, long, gradu- 
ated, more than half the length of wing ; legs, long, slender ; tibia bare for 
fully a third of its length ; tarsus, half as long again as middle toe with 
claw. Web between outer and middle toes from the first joint of the 
former, merely at base between middle and inner toes. 

But one species is known of this genus, essentially belonging to the 
New World, with occasional stragglers to the eastern hemisphere, as far as 
Australia. It is a bird of the uplands, not frequenting the sea-coast, nor 
salt marshes, and is a graceful, prettily plumaged species. 

GENUS TRYNGITES. 
(Greek, rpvyyad, triggas or tringas, sandpiper), 

Tryngites. Cab. Jour fur Ornith. 1856, p. 418. Type, Tringa stibrufi- 
collis. Vieill. 

Bill, straight, maxilla grooved to near the tip, shorter than head. Feath- 
ers extend to nostrils on maxilla, beyond on the sides of the mandible, and 
cover the inter-ramal space. Wings, long, pointed. Inner web of primaries 
mottled ; tail, long, doubly emarginate ; legs, long, slender ; tarsus, a little 
longer than the middle toe and claw. Toes cleft to the base. 

One species represents this genus, resembling in its habits the previous 
one, Bartram's Sandpiper. It is peculiar to the New World, straggling 
frequently to Europe. Small in size, tame and confiding in disposition, 
and clothed in plumage of attractive hues, it is a most pleasing object wher- 
ever found. 

GENUS A OTITIS 

(Greek ccKtr}, akte, seashore). 

Actitis, Illiger, Prodromus, 1811, p. 262, Type, Tringa hypoleucus, 
Linn. 



242 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Bill longer than the head, straight, rather slender, both maxilla and 
mandible grooved. Wings, long pointed. Legs of moderate length ; toes 
long ; outer connected with middle by a large membrane ; inner slightly 
connected. Tail, more than half the length of wing, rounded. 

Two species are included in this genus, one a native of the New World, 
occasional in Europe ; the other found in northern parts of Old World and 
some islands in Behring Sea, but never obtained in our limits. They fre- 
quent the banks of brooks and rivers, lay their eggs on the sand or on the 
pebbly beach, and are remarkable for the tilting movement of the hinder 
portion of the body, which gives them a ludicrous aspect. They are gentle 
and unsuspicious, and the American species is one of the most familiar 
objects along the lakes and rivers. 

GENUS NUMENIUS 
(Greek veoor, neos, new, jurjvr/, mene, the moon, crescent-shaped bill). 

Numenius, Brisson, Ornith., vol. vi., 1760, p. 311. Type, Scolopax 
arquata. Linn. 

Bill very long, but variable in length among individuals of the same 
species, always longer than the tarsus, culmen rounded and curved down- 
ward for half its length from the tip ; maxilla longer than mandible. Tip 
of bill expanded, and the grooves reaching to the middle. Feathers of 
chin reaching forward to anterior end of nostrils. Legs moderately long ; 
lower half in front covered with scutellated plates, behind by hexagonal 
reticulations, distinguishing them from Sandpipers and Snipes. Outer toe 
attached to middle toe by a web extending to first joint ; web to inner toe 
of about half the size. Hind toe small. Wings long, first primary longest, 
tertials nearly as long as primaries. Tail short, even. 

There are nearly a dozen species belonging to this genus distributed 
over all the earth, three only of which are strictly natives of the New 
World, and two others occasional visitors to North America. They are 
large birds, remarkable for the lengthened decurved bill, which makes 
them conspicuous objects in any group of waders of which they may form a 
part, or on the marshy land or moor over which they walk with stately 
steps. As a rule they are shy and wary birds, taking flight at the slightest 
alarm with shrill loud cries. 

The following key will distinguish the species ; 
A. Bill long, greatly curved downward, 
maxilla longer than mandible. 



WOODCOOKS AND SNIPES. 



243 



a. Axillaries rich dark buff without 

bars. 

b. Axillaries dark buff, barred with 

dark brown. 
a 1 . Shafts of thigh feathers not pro- 
longed beyond web. 

a 2 . Top of head blackish brown, 
with vertical buff stripe. Tail 
rufous, barred with dark brown. 

P. Top of head streaked with 
black and buff. Tail grayish 
brown barred with dark brown. 

b 1 . Shafts of thigh feathers prolonged 
beyond the webs. 
c Axillaries white, barred with black- 
ish. Rump white. 



LONG-BILLED CURLEW. 

N. longirostris. 



HUDSONIAN CURLEW. 

N. hudsonicus. 



ESKIMO CURLEW. 

N. borealis. 

BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW. 

N. tahitiensis. 

WHIMBREL. 

N. ph&opus. 



THE PLOVERS. 

Family Charadrdii^e. 

This family, includes the true Plovers, so-called, 
(those species with usually three toes on the foot, the 
hind one absent), and their allies. It is a very large 
group, represented throughout the world, and its com- 
position has been a subject of frequent discussion among 
ornithologists as to what species and genera should be 
placed in it. Happily there is not much doubt re- 
garding the American species, although one genus, 
Aphriza, appears to be an aberrant form, and of some- 
what distant relationship, and is properly placed in a 
different Family. About fifteen species are recognized 
as North American, two or three of which, however, 
can only be regarded as stragglers within our limits 
from the Old World. They are mostly gregarious, 
some going in immense flocks, frequenting various 
portions of the Continent, from both sea-coasts, inland. 
They run and fly with swiftness, and have a soft, melo- 
dious note, according well with their gentle dispositions. 
Keys are given for the genera, of which there are three 
recognized, and of the species under each genus, when 
it contains more than one. 

KEY TO GENERA. 

A. Head crested. Plumage on upper parts me- \ lapwings. 

tallic. J Vanellus. 

B. Head not crested. 



THE PLOVERS. 245 

a. Plumage on upper parts spotted in black, \ golden plovers. 

white, or golden. / Charadrius. 

b. Plumage on upper surface unspotted, uni- 1 ring plovers. 

form. J /Egialitis. 

GENUS VANELLUS. 
(Diminutive of vannus, a fan). 

Vanellus, Brisson, Orn. vol. v. 1760, p. 94. Type Tringa vanellus, 
Linn. 

Bill shorter than the head, about equal to the middle toe in length, 
straight, and decurved at tip, which is blunt. Nostrils situated at base of 
maxilla in a groove that extends two-thirds the length. Outer toe con- 
nected to the middle toe by a web at base. Hind toe with claw present. 
Head with a long occipital crest. Wings, long and rounded, the first 
primary about equal to the sixth. Legs, long, slender, tarsus scutellated 
in front, recticulated on side. Tail, moderately long, nearly even. Plum- 
age metallic. 

There are about four species belonging to this genus, all of which are 
natives of the Old World, one only having been occasionally procured in 
North America, Greenland, and Long Island, on the east, and Alaska on 
the west. It is a very handsome bird, with a metallic plumage, and the 
head ornamented with a graceful recurved crest. 

GENUS CHARADRIUS. 
(Greek x a P a ^P l o6, charadrios, a plover). 

Charadrius, Linn, Syst. Nat., vol. i., 1758, p. 150. Type, C. apicarius. 
Linn. 

Legs reticulated with five or six rows of hexagonal scales in front, fewer 
behind. Hind toe rudimentary or obsolete. First primary longest. Tail 
rounded. 

Four species of this genus are natives of, or visitors to, different por- 
tions of North America, and these have been placed in two subgeneric 
divisions according to the presence or absence of a hind toe. The genus is 
cosmopolitan, found in the northern portions of both hemispheres. They 



246 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

frequent open grassy places, most generally found on the uplands, are gre- 
garious, sometimes going in very large flocks. 

A. Hind toe rudimentary. Axillaries \ black-bellied plover. 

black. J C. squatarola. 

B. Hind toe absent. 

a. Axillaries white. } e ™opean golden plover. 

j C. apicarius. 

b. Axillaries smoky grey. 

a 1 . Wing averaging in length 7.09 ) AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER, 
inches (6.8O-7.20). J C. dominicus. 

b l . Wing averaging in length 6.40 \ pacific golden plover. 
inches (6.10-6.80). / C. d. fulvus. 



SUBGENUS SQUATAROLA 
(Italian name of the species). 

Squatarola, Cuv. Regn. Anim., vol. i., 181 7, p. 467. Type, Tringa 
squatarola. Linn. 
Hind toe rudimentary. 

GENUS sEGIALITIS. 
{a.lyia.Xirr}6, a dweller by the sea). 

^Egialitis, Boie, Isis., 1822, p. 558. Type, Charadrius hiaticula. 
Linn. 

Bill small, compressed, as high as broad, about as long as middle toe 
without claw. Nostrils placed in a skin situated in a groove, which ex- 
tends beyond centre of bill. Wings long, pointed, reaching nearly to end 
of tail ; first primary longest ; inner secondaries nearly as long as primaries. 
Tarsus nearly twice the length of middle toe, covered with hexagonal 
scales ; no hind toe. Anterior toes slender, slightly webbed at base. 

This genus includes the Ring Plovers, so called on account of the breast 
having one or more bands of different colors crossing it more or less com- 
pletely. It contains about a dozen species, the majority small in size, 
dwellers of the seashore for the most part, quick runners and rapid flyers, 
and possessed of clear, soft, melodious voices. 



THE PLOVERS. 247 

The American group has four subgenera and ten species, one at least of 
which is very doubtfully included in our fauna. The following key distin- 
guishes these. 

SUBGENUS OXYECHUS. 

(Greek oxvd, oxus, sharp, rjxod, hechus, sound). 

Oxyechus, Reich, Syst. Av., 1853, p. xviii. Type, Charadrius vocif- 
erus. Linn. 

Tail very broad, long, two-thirds length of wing. 

SUBGENUS MG I A LIT IS. 
See Genus. 

Size small. Tail half as long as wing. Type, JE. semipalmata 

SUBGENUS OCHTHODROMUS. 
(Greek 6x0 od, ochthos, bank, dpojuad, dromas, running). 

Ochthodromus, Reich, Syst. Av., 1852, pi. xviii. Type, Charadrius 
wilsonius. Ord. 

Bill, long, stout, longer than middle toe. End of culmen curved. Basal 
half of maxilla lower than terminal half. 

SUBGENUS PODASOCYS. 
(Greek no&ad, podas, gokv6, okus, swift as to his feet). 

Podasocys, Coues, Proc. Acad. Nat. Scien. Phil., 1866, p. 96. Type, 
Charadrius montanus. Towns. 

Bill slender, wide at base, longer than middle toe, which is less thaD 
half the length of tarsus. 

KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

A . Black band below the white on back 
of neck. 

a. Two black bands^across'the breast. ") killdeer. 

Rump ochraceous. / GE. vocifera. 

b. One black band across the breast. 
a 1 . Back and rump ashy brown. 

a 1 . Base of both maxilla and man- 
dible, yellow. 



248 



NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 



a 3 . White spot behind eye 
nearly obsolete. Web at 
base of toes to second joint. 

b 3 . White spot behind eye con- 
spicuous. Web on toes 
only to first joint. 

P. Base of mandible only yellow. 

b 1 . Back and rump whitish ash, or 
brownish gray. 
a 1 . Black band on breast not 

meeting in center. 
3 2 . Black band on breast contin- 
uous. 
No black band on back of neck. 
. Crown and nape reddish buff. 

Sides of breast black. 
. Crown and nape brownish gray, 



uniform. 

. Bill moderate 



across 



b\ 



Band 

breast cinnamon rufous. 
Bill large. Band across breast 
black. 



C. Crown and entire upper parts grayish 
brown, feathers edged with rufous, 
or reddish buff. Across -breast an 
indistinct ochraceous band. 



SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. 

CE. semipalmata. 



RING PLOVER. 

OE. hiaticula. 



ITTLE RING PLOVER. 

CE. dubia. 



PIPING PLOVER. 

OE. meloda. 

BELTED PIPING PLOVER. 

OE. m. circumcincta. 

SNOWY PLOVER. 

CE. nivosa. 



MONGOLIAN PLOVER. 
OE. mongola. 

WILSON'S PLOVER. 

CE. wilsonia. 

MOUNTAIN PLOVER. 
OE. montana. 



THE TURNSTONES. 

Family Aphrizid^e. 

This Family includes the two known species of Turn- 
stones, one of which is a cosmopolitan bird, found 
throughout the world, together with the rather widely 
distributed but little known species generally called 
" Surf Bird " of the genus Aphriza, from which the 
Family takes its name. They are essentially ' ' Beach- 
birds," frequenting rocky shores and sandy stretches 
along the borders of the ocean, and have the habit of 
turning over small stones wherever these abound, to 
search for such insects or small crustacea as lay be- 
neath and on which they feed. They are very rapid 
runners, swift flyers, breed in the vicinity of the sea, 
and utter a clear, loud whistle. One species, the Black 
Turnstone, is indigenous to North America. 

KEY TO THE GENERA. 



APHRIZA. 



ARENARIA. 



A . Bill at base higher than broad, pointed. 

a. Bill plover-like, middle part depressed. Culmen "I 

shorter than tarsus. J 

b. Bill compressed, culmen straight, about equal to \ 

tarsus. i 

Sub-Family Aphrizin^e. 

GENUS APHRIZA. 

(Greek, d<ppo6, aphros, sea-foam, £,&&), zao, I live). 

Aphriza. Aud. Orn. Biog. vol. v. 1839, p. 249. Type Tringa virgata. 
Gmel. 

249 



250 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

Bill, Plover-like, middle portion depressed, terminal portion swollen and 
arched Culmen shorter than tarsus. Tail emarginate. Toes cleft, hind 
toe prominent. 

But one species is known, inhabiting the Pacific coast of America. In 
some respects it resembles the Plovers, but has a very prominent hind toe, 
and presents many points of resemblance to the Turnstones. 

It has been associated with the Plovers by some writers, but it is very 
obvious that its place is apart from that group, and much more naturally 
associated with the species of the following genus. 

Sub-Family Arenariin^e. 

GENUS A REN ARIA. 

(A renaria relating to sand ; a sand pit). 

Arenaria, Briss. Orn. vol. v. 1 760, p. 132. Type Tringa interpres. 
Linn. 

Bill, compressed, pointed at tip, culmen straight. Culmen and tarsus, 
nearly equal. Tail rounded. Hind toe present. 

Two species only are known belonging to this genus, one of them cosmo- 
politan, the other restricted to North America. They are birds of moderate 
size, one with very gay and attractive plumage of strongly contrasting colors 
of black, dark red and white. They are exclusively shore birds, nesting 
near the beach. 

KEY TO THE SPECIES. 

A. Rump, and under parts below breast, pure 
white. 

a. Back and scapulars, blotched with rufous or ) TURNSTONE, 
light chestnut. / A. interpres. 

, ^ T , , . , , r 1 "» BLACK TURNSTONE. 

b. No red or chestnut on any part ol plumage. V 

y A, melanocephala. 



THE OYSTER CATCHERS. 

FAMILY HCEMATOPODID^E. 

The Oyster Catchers are very peculiar looking birds, 
rather large of size, having a plumage, with two excep- 
tions, of strongly contrasted colors, and with bright 
colored legs and bill, the latter of unusual shape. 
They are birds of more temperate climes, in which all 
breed, but some also nest in Arctic as well as tropical 
regions. Nearly cosmopolitan in their distribution, 
and dwellers of the seashore and island beaches, they 
are shy and wary, keeping well away from possible 
danger. The bill of the Oyster Catcher is of peculiar 
shape, and distinguishes these birds from all other 
groups of waders. About seven species are recog- 
nized, scattered over various parts of the world. 

GENUS HCEMATOPUS 
(aijua, Aaima, blood, 7tov6, pons, foot, red-footed). 

Hoematopus, Linn, Syst. Nat., vol. i., 1758, p. 152. Type, Hozmatopus 
ostralegus. Linn. 

Bill, flat, compressed, wedge-shaped, tapering to a point, longer than the 
tarsus. Nasal groove extending beyond centre of maxilla. Tarsus covered 
by hexagonal scales; no hind toe; a basal web between outer and middle 
toe. Legs and feet stout. Wings long, pointed. Tail short, nearly even. 

The species of this genus are among the largest of the waders, stout and 
heavy in body, wary, and have a swift and powerful flight. They live and 
breed upon the coasts near the sea, run with speed, and walk, it may al- 
most be called "stalk," along the shore with some approach to a dignified 

251 



252 NORTH AMERICAN SHORE BIRDS. 

carriage. Four species are included in the North American fauna, one 
of which, a European form, is occasionally found in Greenland, one is gen- 
erally distributed in our limits, and two are restricted to the Pacific Coast. 

KEY TO SPECIES. 



A. Legs and feet dull crimson. \ 



EUROPEAN OYSTER CATCHER. 

H. o sir a leg us. 
B. Legs and feet pale flesh color. 

TT , ., . ,.. I AMERICAN OYSTER CATCHER. 

a. Upper tail-coverts pure white. > 

/ H.palliatus. 

b. Upper tail-coverts varied with 1 frazer's oyster catcher. 

brown and white. J H. frazeri. 

c. Entire plumage blackish brown. 1 BLACK OYSTER ETCHER. 

' H. backmani. 



THE JACANAS. 

FAMILY JACANID^E. 

The Jacanas are peculiar birds, formed for a partially- 
aquatic existence and provided with excessively length- 
ened toes, which enable them to move with ease and 
safety over the broad leaves of water plants lying on the 
surface. The claws also are long, that on the hind toe 
excessively lengthened, much longer than the toe itself. 
The Family is divided into five genera, containing nine 
species, which are pretty well distributed throughout 
the globe. The wing is armed at the bend with a spur, 
which in a number of species is moderately long and 
very sharp, in others blunt. 

GENUS JACANA 
{Jacana, native name for the bird). 

Tail short, central feathers not lengthened beyond the rest. Primaries 
of normal shape. Head with an upright fleshy wattle on top. Toes and 
claws excessively lengthened. 

Four species comprise this genus, natives of Mexico, Central America 
and Northern South America to Brazil. One species strays into Texas, and 
so becomes a member of the North American fauna. They are pretty 
birds, rather pugnacious in disposition, and the spur with which Nature 
has endowed them apparently for purposes of offence and defence, is a for- 
midable weapon. These birds are striking objects in the lily-covered ponds 
and lagoons scattered about the localities they frequent. 



INDEX 



Abbott, Capt., p. 81. 
Agialitis, pp. 245, 246, 247. 
" cantiana, p. 188. 
" dubia, pp. 182, 248. 
" hiaticula, pp. 178, 181, 248. 
" meloda, pp. 123, 185, 248. 
" " circumcincta, pp. 

186, 248. 
Agialitis mongola, pp. 189, 248. 
" montana, pp. 195, 248. 
" nivosa, pp. 188, 248. 
" semipalmata, pp. 179, 247, 
248. 
Agialitis vocifera, pp. 176, 247. 
" wilsonia, pp. 192, 248. 
Actitis, pp. 230, 241. 

" macularia, p. 149. 
Actodromus, pp. 233, 235. 
" couesi, p. 235. 

" maritima, p. 235. 

yEneas, p. 30. 
Africa, pp. 36, 63, 94, 120, 136, 168, 

181, 182, 202, 205. 
Africa, north, pp. 44, 89, 163. 

" south, pp. 66, 166. 
Alaska, pp. 21, 22, 23, 25, 27, 55, 
57, 58, 59, 64, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 
76,77,78,81,82,83,86,87,90, 
93, 94, 95, 100, 102, 105, 107, 
108, no, in, 112, 117, 118, 119, 
124, 134,135, 145,156, 161,163, 
167,173, 174,179, l82 , l8 9, 197, 
202, 203, 204, 212, 213, 235, 245. 
Alaska, northern, pp. 25, 159. 



Alaskan coast, pp. 155, 171, 

179, 201. 
Alaskan peninsula, pp. 65, 67 

98, 124, 144. 
Aleutian Islands, pp. 69, 70, 

135, 212, 213, 235. 
Alewife Bird, p. 47. 
Altrices, p. 19. 
Anak Island, p. 83. 
America, Arctic, p. 67. 

" Central, pp. 61, 76, 

153, 173, 176, 187, 188, 253. 
America, British, p. 145. 
" northeastern, p. 67. 
" South, pp. 4, 50, 55, 

83, 86, 98, 100, 101, 112, 

149, 153, 155, 156, 158, 160, 

172, 173, 178, 179,188,191, 

202, 208, 209, 212, 215, 253. 
Amoor, valley of the, pp. 137, : 
Ancylocheilus, pp. 233, 236. 
Anderson River, pp. 103, 104, 

118. 
Anderson River region, pp. 

J 55, 156, 159, 167, 172, 179. 
Anderson, Fort, pp. 55, III. 
Andes, p. 179. 
Angeles, Los, p. 57. 
Angelica Archangelica, p. 189. 
Antarctic regions, pp. Ill, 1 17. 
Aphriza, pp. 244, 249. 

" virgata, pp. 197, 249. 
Aphrizidae, pp. 220, 249. 
Aphrizinae, p. 249. 



174, 
,83, 
134, 



100, 



81, 
117, 
171, 
197, 



44, 



255 



256 



INDEX. 



Archangel, p. 205. 

Arctic Circle, pp. 37, 47, 86, 126, 
134, 159. 

Arctic coast, p. 95. 

" Ocean, pp. Ill, 172. 
" regions, pp. 27, 55, 61, 65, 
78, 81, 83, 86, 92, 94, 104, 105, 
in, 113, 118, 119, 127,134,156, 
160, 173, 178, 179, 223, 251. 

Arctic regions, sub., p. 179. 

Arctic Sea, pp. 81, 98, 103, 137, 
155, 159, 172, i73> 179, 202. 

Arenaria, pp. 249, 250. 

" interpres, pp. 202 ? 250. 
" melanocephala, pp. 204, 
250. 

Arenariinse, p. 250. 

Argentine Republic, pp. 105, 106, 
in, 112, 117, 124,142,143,145, 

160, 172. 

Arizona, pp. 82, 99, 126, 194. 
Arquatella, pp. 233, 234, 253. 
Asia, pp. 44, 87, 95, 107, 174, 179, 

181, 182, 236. 
Asia, central, p. 202. 

" eastern, pp. 74, 92, 94, 107. 

" northern, p. 189. 

" western, p. 205. 
Assiniboin, p. 139. 
Atlantic, pp. 37, 151, 153, 205. 
" coast, pp. 21, 23, 32, 57, 

59, 6 3, 65, 67, 76, 78, 80, 82, 83, 

90, 93, 99, 100, 105, no, 115, 

116, 130, 131, 132, 139, 147, 158, 

161, 168, 171, 183, 185, 186, 209. 
Atlantic Ocean, pp. 139, 147. 

" seaboard, pp. 52, 66, 191. 

" States, South, pp. 153, 207. 
Audubon, pp. 105, 1 17, 120. 
Australia, pp. 74, 94, 108, 143, 174, 
189, 241. 



Australia, north, p. 113. 

Auvick, pp. 124, 135. 

Avocet, pp. 32, 34, 61 , 120, 224. 

" American, p. 32. 
Avocets and Stilts, pp, 220, 224. 
Azores, p. 37. 

Baffin's Bay, pp. 61, 91, 112. 

Bahamas, pp. 178, 209. 

Baird, S. F., pp. 79, 235. 

Bannister, pp. 52, 64. 

Barnegat, p. 60. 

Barren Ground, pp. 81, 83, 98, 103, 

in, 155, 159, 172. 
Bartramia, pp. 230, 241. 

" longicauda, p. 142. 

Batitu, p. 142. 
Bay Birds, pp. 52, 132. 
Beach Bird, pp. 102, 185, 199. 

" Birds, p. 249. 

" Robin, p. 63. 
Bean, Dr. T., p. 95. 
Behring Island, pp. 74, 87. 

Sea, pp. 25, 57, 59, 69, 74, 

77, 86, 87, 90, 92, 98, 99, 118, 

134, 159, 172, 174,179,189,197, 

203, 235, 242. 
Behring Straits, pp. 95, 1 06, 1 60, 

197. 
Belden, Mr., p. 107. 
Bermudas, pp. 27, 43, 44, 45, 55, 

61,78, 124, 171, 176, I79,l85- 
Bittern, p. 124. 
Black Bird, p. 127. 

" Brant, p. 161. 

" Breast, p. 165. 

" Tail, p. no. 
Blue Bittern, p. 124. 
Blue Stocking, p. 33. 
Bog Bird, p. 39. 

" Sucker, p. 39. 



INDEX. 



257 



Bombazine Lake, p. 123. 

Bowhead, p. 22. 

Bowhead Bird, p. 21. 

Brant Bird, p. 199. 

Brazil, pp. 35, 61, 63, 65, 78, 131, 

149, 167, 179, 191, 192, 209,253. 
Brewer, Dr. T., p. 235. 
Brewster, W., pp. 126, 133, 235. 
British America, pp. 145, 151. 

" Islands, pp. 55,81, 94,113, 

120, 128, 136, 163, 165, 181, 205. 
British Provinces, p. 43. 
Brown Back, p. 52. 

" Bird, p. 76. 
Brown, Fort, p. 214. 
Bryant, Mr., p. 107. 
Buenos Ayres, p. 145. 
Burmah, p. 95. 
Bustards, p. 17. 

Calais, p. 34. 
Calico Bird, p. 199. 
Calidris, pp. 229, 237. 

" arenaria, p. 104. 
California, pp. 90, 115, 132, 182. 
" Gulf of, pp. 210, 212. 
" Lower, pp. 108, 135, 
192, 204, 209, 213. 
California, coast of, pp. 76, 165, 

172, 187,191. 
California, southern, pp. 105, 107, 

195, 203. 
Canada, p. 86. 
Cape of Good Hope, pp. 120, 128, 

136, 168. 
Cape Mendocino, p. 188. 
Sable, pp. 106, 120. 
Smythe, p. 57. 
St. Lucas, p. 20. 
Union, p. 103. 
Waukarem, p. 95. 



Cerros Island, p. 210. 
Charadriidse, pp. 220, 235, 244. 
Charadrius, p. 245. 

" apricarius, pp. 168, 245, 

246. 
Charadrius dominicus, pp. 173, 246. 
" " fulvus, pp. 

174, 246. 
Charadrius hiaticulus, p. 246. 
" himantopus, p. 224. 

" montanus, p. 247. 

" squatarola, pp. 167, 246. 

" vociferus, p. 247. 

" wilsonius, p. 247. 

Chilcat Peninsula, pp. 72, 73. 
Chili, pp. 23, 76, 78, 81, 83, 104, 

112, 117,172, 173,188,197,212. 
China, pp. y], 94, 113, 120, 128, 

174, 182, 205. 
China, eastern, p. 205. 
Choris Peninsula, pp. 95, 189. 
Chorlo Solo, p. 142. 
Christianhaab, p. 93. 
Cobb's Island, p. 167. 
Colombia, pp. 176, 215. 
Colorado, State of, pp. 32, 82, 90. 
Columbia, pp. 196, 215. 

" British, pp. 58, 90, 97, 

139, 204. 
Columbia River, pp. 165, 197. 
Columbus, p. 123. 
Colville Bay, p. 139. 
Colymbus, p. 221. 
Commander Islands, pp. 70, 108, 

135, 189, 213. 
Conger, Fort, p. 64. 
Cooke, Mr., p. 165. 
Cooper, Wm., p. 78. 
Coots, p. 221. 
Corpus Christi, p. 186. 
Corronados Islands, p. 210. 



258 



INDEX. 



Coues, Dr. E., p. 80. 
Cranes, p. 17. 
Crows, p. 131. 
Crymophilus, pp. 221, 222, 223. 

fulicarius, p. 23. 
Cuba, pp. 33, 59, 106, 112, 153, 185, 

209, 215. 
Cuba, western, p. 188. 
Cu-cu, p. 115. 

" Large, p. 115. 
Cumberland Bay, p. 181. 
Curlew, pp. 152, 154, 160, 161, 162. 
Curlew, Bristly-thighed, pp. 161, 

243- 
Curlew, Buzzard, p. 152. 

" Eskimo, pp. 156, 158, 159, 

243- 
Curlew, Hen, p. 152. 

" Hudsonian, pp. 155, 158, 

159, 160, 161, 243. 
Curlew, Jack, p. 155. 

" Long-billed, pp. 151, 155, 

243. 
Curlew, Red, p. 105. 

" Short-billed, p. 156. 
Small, p. 158. 

" Spanish, p. 152. 

" Straight-billed, p. 105. 
Curlews, pp. 18, 105, 129,155, 158, 

230, 240. 
Cuvier, Baron, p. 132. 

Dakota, pp. 32, 106, no, 195. 
Dakotas, the, pp. 29, 32, 82, 106, 
no. 



119. 

52, 57, 64, 69, 83, 102, 

TTT \f\1 lift 



Dall, pp. -,-, 3n ^, . 

107, 108, in, 163,179 
Danube, p. 137. 
Davis, p. 123. 

" Bay, p. 181. 

" Strait, pp. 91, 181. 



Dido, p. 30. 
Doe Bird, p. 158. 
Doorfjeld, p. 25. 
Dowitch, p. 52. 
Dowitcher, pp. 52, 57, 232. 

Long-billed, pp. 52, 57, 

232. 
Dowitcher, Western, p. 57. 

" White-tailed, p. 57. 

Dowitchers, pp. 53, 54, 57, 60. 

228. 
Dresser, H. E., p. 81. 
Dunlin, pp. 89, 94, 234. 

" European, p. 89. 

Eastern States, p. 151. 
England, p. 127. 
Ereunetes, pp. 228, 236. 

" occidentalis, pp. 98, 100, 

237. 
Ereunetes pusillus, pp. 80, 86, 98, 

101, 237. 
Europe, pp. 44, 66, 78, 86, 113, 

120, 131, 143, 145, 149, 165, 168, 

182, 231, 241, 242. 
Europe, eastern, p. 205. 

" northern, p. 44. 

" northwestern, p. 205. 
Eurynorhynchus, pp. 230, 236. 

pygmaeus, p. 95. 

Falkland Islands, pp. 81, 112. 
East, p. 81. 
Faroe Islands, p. 66. 
Faroes, pp. 25, 66. 
Felix Harbor, p. 91. 
Feneeker, Gov., p. 93. 
Fielding, Capt., pp. 64, 103. 
Flood Gull, p. 208. 
Florida, State of, pp. 35, 67, 90, 
106, 120, 152, 195. 



INDEX 



259 



Florida, eastern, p. 151. 
Flycatcher, p. 127. 
Franklyn Bay, pp. 61, 98. 
Frazer, Mr., p. 215. 
Frost Bird, p. 171. 
Fulica, p. 221. 

Fur Seal Island, pp. 72, 1 74. 
Futes,p. 158. 

Galapagos Islands, pp. 179, 209, 

210. 
Gallinago, pp. 228, 231, 232. 
" delicata, pp. 50, 231. 
gallinago, pp. 45, 231. 
Georgia, State of, p. 42. 
Gibraltar, p. 66. 
Glottis, pp. 238, 239. 
Godwit, pp. 105, 109, no, 129, 155, 
" Black-tailed, pp. 1 1 3, 238. 
" Hudsonian, pp. no, in, 

"3, 2 38. 
Godwit, Marbled, pp. 105, 108, no, 

238. 
Godwit, Pacific, pp. 107, 113, 238. 
" Red-breasted, p. no. 
" Rose -breasted, p. no. 
Godwits, pp. 129, 229, 237, 239. 
Golden-back, p. 171. 
Golsova River, p. 163. 
Goose Bird, p. no. 
Grand Menan, p. 34. 
Grayback, pp. 52, 63. 
Great Britain, pp. 113, 160, 168. 
Great Lakes, pp. 66, 67, 102, 103^ 

109, no, 184, 185, 199. 
Greater Long-beak, p. 57. 
Great Plains, p. 195. 

" Salt Lakes, pp. 35, 90, 187, 

188. 
Great Slave Lake, pp. 33, in, 118. 
Greater Grayback, p. 57. 



Grebes, p. 221. 

Greely, Lieut., p. 64. 

Green-back, p. 170. 

Greenland, pp. 22, 23, 25, 44, 45, 
47, 66, 78, 81,93,94, 104, 113, 
119, 156, 160, 162, 16}, 168, 173, 
179, 181, 205, 206, 245, 252. 

Greenland, eastern, p. 168. 
" north, p. 93. 

Greenshank, pp. 120, 239. 

" European, p. 120. 

Grinnell Land, pp. 64, 103, 104. 

Guatemala, pp. 27, 33, 106. 

Gulf States, pp. 34, 35, 200. 

Gulls, pp. 17, 129. 

Hainan, p. 120. 

Halifax, p. 127. 

Hay Bird, p. 76. 

Hayti, p. 215. 

Havre, p. 55. 

Haematopodidae, pp. 220, 25 1. 

Haematopus, pp. 225, 251. 

" ater, pp. 212, 250, 
" bachmani, pp. 213, 252. 
" frazeri, pp. 209, 210, 
252. 

Haematopus ostralegus, pp. 205, 
251, 252. 

Haematopus palliatus, pp. 209, 252. 

Henshaw, Mr., p. 187. 

Heteractitis, pp. 135, 230, 240. 

Himantopus, pp. 224, 225. 

" mexicanus, p. 35. 

Himalayas, p. 37. 

Hintz, Mr., p. 127. 

Hookum Pake, p. 39. 

Horsefoot, p. 199. 

Hudson, pp. in, 124, 173. 

Hudson Bay, pp. 29, 50, 64, 66, 
85, 89, 119. 



260 



INDEX 



Iceland, pp. 22, 25, 66, 104, 181. 

Idaho, State of, p. 82. 

Illinois, State of, pp. 29, 30, 52, 81 

82, 117, 119, 170. 
India, pp. 89, 95, 113, 120, 174, 204. 
Indian Archipelago, pp. 87, 94. 
Indian Territory, p. 188. 
Iowa, State of, pp. 29, 106, 117. 
Islip, p. 21. 

Jacana, pp. 18, 214, 253. 

" mexicana, p. 214. 

" spinosa, p. 215. 
Jacanidae, pp. 220, 253. 
Jacanas, the, pp. 17, 220, 253. 
Jack, pp. 76, 156. 
Jamaica, pp. 33, 153. 
Japan, pp. 87, 163, 205. 
Jay, p. 127. 
Jersey coast, pp. 60, no. 

Kadiak Island, pp. 83, 161. 
Kansas, State of, pp. 80, 90, 139, 

188. 
Kamschatka, pp. 70, 206. 
Kildee, p. 175. 
Kildeer, pp. 176, 247. 
Knot, pp. 63, 64, 79, 233. 
Koshkonong, Lake, p. 186. 
Kotzebue Sound, pp. 57, 90, 154, 

159, 189. 
Kowak River, p. 70. 
Krieker, p. 76. 
Kurile Islands, pp. 69, 213, 235. 

Labrador, pp. 80, 85, 86, 88, 98, 

117, 159, 179, 185. 
Labrador, southern, p. 185. 

" Twister, p. 39. 
La Paz, pp. 107, 108, 200, 210, 213. 
Lapwing, pp. 163, 244. 



Lawyer, p. 35. 

Lead-back, p. 90. 

Lena, valley of the, p. 87. 

Limicolse, pp. 17, 34. 

Limosa, pp. 229, 237. 

" fedoa, pp. 106, 238. 
" hsematica, pp. 112, 238. 
" lapponica baueri, pp. 108, 
238. 

Limosa limosa, pp. 113, 238. 

Long Island, pp. 21, 57, 60, 66, 78, 
79, 89, 93, no, 115, 136, 137, 
*53> l6 3> 191, x 9 2 > 207,208,245. 

Long Shanks, p 35. 

Lord, Mr., p. 139. 

Louisiana, State of, p. 139. 

Lyons, Capt., pp. 64, 65. 

Macrorhamphus, pp. 57, 228, 231, 

236. 
Macrorhamphus griseus, pp. 55, 232. 
" scolopaceous, pp. 59, 

232. 
Madeira, p. 37. 
Magdalena Bay, p. 210. 

" Islands, p. 185. 

Magellan, Straights of, p. 202. 
Maine, State of, pp. 34, 66. 
Marlin,p. 105. 

" Crooked-bill, p. 156. 

" Horsefoot, pp. 105, 156. 

" Ring-tail, p. no. 
Massachusetts, State of, pp. 29, i67 ? 

207. 
MacFarlane, pp. 61, 81, 83, 103, 

in, 156, 159, 172,179. 
Mackenzie River, pp. 81, 124. 

" " valley of the, p. 83. 

Malay Archipelago, p. 189. 
Manitoba, Province of, pp. 153, 165, 

184. 



INDEX 



261 



May Bird, p. 63. 
May Cook, p. 167. 
Mediterranean, the, pp. 37, 120. 
Melville Peninsula, pp. 64, 66, 91, 

167. 
Merriam, C. H., p. 64. 
Merrill, Dr., p. 214. 
Mexico, pp. 59, 215, 253. 
" Gulf of, p. 151. 
" western, p. 210. 
Middendorf, p. 25. 
Middle States, pp. 23, 52, 66, 67, 

139, 176, 200. 
Michigan, State of, p. 81. 

" Lake, pp. 67, 81. 
Micropalama, pp. 228, 232, 236. 
" himantopus, p. 61. 

Minnesota, State of, pp. 82, no, 

129. 
Mississippi River, pp. 39, 129, 131. 
" valley of the, pp. 29, 52, 

57, 59, 65, 67, 97, 103, 105, 108, 

119, 132, 151,155,158,165,184, 

186. 
Missouri, State of, p. 67. 

" region, pp. 105, 184. 

Montana, State of, pp. 32, 82. 
Mover, p. 152. 
Mozambique, p, 205. 
Murdock, pp. 57, 64, 77, 83, 91,93, 

144, 174. 
Muscicapa luctuosa, p. 1 27. 

Nawado Island, p. 201. 
Nebraska, State of, p. 165. 
Nelson, E. W„ pp. 57, 69, 74, 77, 

95, 9 6 , 99, io 7, 108, I", 135, 
159, 161, 172, 174, 179, 186. 
New England, pp. 66, 93. 
" Jersey, State of, pp, 21, 29, 
131, 156, 207, 209. 



New Jersey coast, pp. no, 131, 152, 

156. 
New Mexico, Territory of, pp. 82, 

194. 
New Siberian Islands, p. 25. 

" World, the, pp. 23, 29, 67, 

241, 242, 244. 
New York, State of, p. 163. 

" Zealand, p. 63. 
Night Partridge, p. 39. 

" Peck, p.39. 
North America, pp. 30, 32, 33, 44, 

67, 78, 81, 83, 86, 92, 100, 105, 

106, 113, 117, 119, 120, 127, 139, 

145, 147, 149, 153, 155, 156, 173, 

176, 178, 179,192,197, 199,201, 

202, 203, 205, 210, 212, 224, 226, 

230, 231, 232, 233, 238, 240, 242, 

245, 249, 250, 252. 
North America, British, pp. 151, 

179. 
North America, eastern, pp. 37, 43, 

52, 55, 61, 80, 89, 94, 98, 124, 

129, 131, 136, 137, 139, 143, 160, 

185. 
North America, western, pp. 59, 100, 

132, 188. 
North Cape, p. 74. 

" Carolina, State of, p. 42. 

" Georgian Islands, p. 64. 
Norton Sound, pp. 57, 69, 73, 99, 

135, 163, 172. 
Norway, p. 168. 
Nova Scotia, pp. 127, 128, 143, 191, 

192, 209. 
NovaZembla, pp. 25, 181. 
Nulato, pp. 69, 90, 102, in, 124, 

144, 179. 
Numenius, pp. 230, 242. 

" borealis, pp. 160, 243. 

" hudsonicus, pp. 156, 243. 



/ 



262 



INDEX 



Namenius, longirostris, pp. 153, 243. 

" phoeopus, pp. 162, 243. 

" tahitiensis, pp. 1 61, 243. 

Nushagat River, p. 55. 

Obb, valley of the, p. 205. 
Ochthodromus, p. 247. 
Ohio, State of, pp. 119, 123. 

" valley of the, pp. 21, 23. 
Okotsk Sea, p. 25. 
Old World, the, pp. 23, 37, 44, 46, 

55, 6 7, 89, 94, 113, 120, 127, 128, 

136, 137, 162, 163, 168, 181, 182, 

240, 242, 244, 245. 
Oregon, State of, pp. 29, 32, 35. 
Otter Island, p. 87. 
Ox-eye, p. 97. 
Oxyechus, p. 247. 
Oyster- catcher, pp. 209, 210, 213, 

251. 
Oyster-catcher, American, pp. 205 

207, 252. 
Oyster-catcher, Black, pp. 212, 213, 

250, 252. 
Oyster-catcher, European, pp. 205, 

250, 252. 
Oyster-catcher, Frazar's, pp. 209, 

210, 252. 
Oyster-catchers, pp. 212, 220. 
" " the, p. 251. 

Pacific, the, pp. 37, 38, 66, 76, 90, 
151, 153, 174, 187, 188,191,195, 
212. 

Pacific Coast, pp. 21, 25, 57, 58, 61, 
65, 66, 76, 83, 90,99, 105, no, 
126, 134, 135, 139,149,153,155, 
165, 197, 203, 204,212,213,252. 

Pacific Islands, pp. 74, 1 61, 174, 201. 
" Ocean, pp. 108, 135, 147, 161. 

Palebelly, p. 171. 



Palebreast, p. 71. 

Panama, p. 215. 

Papabote, p. 139. 

Parry, p. 64. 

Pastolik, pp. 52, 69, 108. 

Patagonia, pp. 83, 104, 1 19, 145, 

155, 156, 173, 209. 
Pavoncella, pp. 230, 240. 

pugnax, p. 137. 
Pennsylvania, western, p. 105. 
Peep, pp. 85, 97. 
Peeps, p. 236. 
Peet-weet, pp. 147, 149. 
Peewit, p. 163. 
Pelidna, pp. 233, 235. 
Peru, pp. 35, 61, 124, 143, 145, 179, 

191, I9 2 . 
Pewee, p. 39. 
Phalarope, pp. 22, 29, 30. 
" Gray, p. 21. 
" Northern, pp. 25, 27, 221, 

222. 
Phalarope, Red, pp. 21, 25, 221, 

222. 
Phalarope, Red-necked, p. 25. 

" Wilson's, pp. 29, 30. 

Phalaropes, pp. 30, 220,221,223. 
Phalaropodidse, pp. 21, 220, 221. 
Phalaropus, pp. 221, 222, 223. 

" lobatus, p. 27. 

Philippine Islands, p. 44. 
Philohela, pp. 228, 230. 
" minor, p. 43. 
Picardy, p. 55. 
Platalea pygmaea, p. 236. 
Platte River, pp. 165, 195. 
Pleasant Island, p. 201. 
Plot, p. 167. 
Plover, pp. 17, 139, 140, 165, 166, 

171, 175, !7§, 179, l8 4, 189, 192, 

194, 195. 



INDEX 



263 



Clover, American Golden, pp. 170, 

174, 246. 
Plover, Asiatic, p. 195. 
" Bay, p. 95. 
" Bartram's, p. 140. 
" Beetle-headed, p. 165. 
" Belted Piping, pp. 184, 186, 
248. 
Plover, Black-bellied, pp. 165, 166, 

246. 
Plover, 



Black-breast, p. 165 
Black-breasted, pp. 1 



171. 

Plover, 



168, 
Plover, 
tt 

160, 
Plover, 



172, 
Plover, 

186, 
Plover, 



8. 166. 



Buff-breast Blue, p. 63. 
Bull-headed, p. 165. 
Cornfield, p. 139. 
European, p. 186. 

" Golden, pp„ 165, 

246, 

Field, pp. 107, 139. 
Golden, pp. 140, 145, 158, 
170,172, 174, 176, 245. 
Grass, p. 139. 
Gray, pp. 139, 161, 165. 
Green, p. 171. 
Green-head, p. 171. 
Highland, p. 139. 
Kentish, p. 188. 
Killdeer, p. 175. 
Mongolian, pp. 189, 248. 
Mountain, pp. 194, 195, 248. 
Mud, p. 166. 

Pacific Golden, pp. 168, 
174,246. 
Pasture, p. 1 39. 
Piping, pp. 123, 183, 184, 
187, 248. 
Plain, p. 139. 
Prairie, p. 194. 
Red-breast, p. 63. 
Ring, pp. 178, 246, 248. 



Plover, Ring-neck, p. 178. 

" Ring, European, pp. 181, 

182. 
Plover, Little, pp. 182, 248. 

" Rock, p. 166. 

" Ruddy, p. 102. 

" Sea, p. 165. 

" Semipalmated, pp. 178, i8l> 

182, 183, 189, 191, 248. 
Plover, Snowy, pp. 187, 248. 

" Stone, p. 166. 

" Strand, p. 166. 

" Upland, pp. 139, 140, 141, 

144, 160, 230. 
Plover, Wilson's, pp. 191, 192, 221, 

222, 248. 
Plover Bay, p. 95. 
Plovers, pp. 17, 18, 20, 32, 159, 191, 

192, 208, 220, 237, 244, 250. 
Plovers, Ring, p. 245. 
Podasocys, p. 247. 
Point Barrow, pp. 6, 21, 34, 64, 77, 

81, 82, 83, 90, 93, 98, 107, 144, 

159, 165, 172, 174, 203. 
Polar Sea, pp. 91, 155. 
Poland, p. 113. 

Polynesian Islands, Eastern, p. 135. 
Populus tremula, p. 127. 
Portage Bay, pp. 72, 73. 
Praecoces, p. 19. 
Prairie Pigeon, pp. 139, 171. 
Prybiloff Islands, pp. 73, 174, 235. 
Puget Sound, p. 76. 
Purre, p. 90. 
Pucheran, Dr., p. 132. 



Quaily, p. 139. 

Rails, p. 17. 

Raynor South, pp. 78, 79. 
Recurvirostra, pp. 206, 224. 



264 



INDEX 



Recurvirostra americana, p. 33. 
" avocetta, p. 224. 

Recurvirostridse, pp. 220, 224. 
Red Sea, p. 189. 
Rendezvous Lake, p. 61. 
Reeves, p. 136. 
Reinhardt, p. 44. 
Rhyacophilus, pp. 238, 239. 
Richardson, Sir J., pp. 29, 64, 66. 

J., P. 123. 

Ridgway, R., pp. 24, 75, 87, 96, 

235- 
Rio Grande, p. 214. 
" " lower valley of the, p. 

215. 
Robin-breast, p. 63. 
Rocky Mountains, pp. 55, 61, 80, 82, 

98,110, 112, 118, 139, 149, 187, 

188. 
Ross, Sir J., p. 91. 
Ruff, pp. 136, 137, 230. 
Russia, pp. 136, 1 68. 

Sabine, Sir J., p. 91. 

" Island, p. 104. 
Sabre-bill, p. 152. 
Sanderling, pp. 18, 102, 103, 229. 
Sanderlings, p. 129. 
Sandwich Islands, pp. 135, 197. 
San Francisco, pp. 90, 132. 
Sanak Islands, p. 69. 
Sand Key, p. 120. 
Sandpiper, pp. 17, 82, 95, 124, 127, 

I39> H2, 144. 
Sandpiper, Aleutian, p. 71. 
" Ash-colored, p. 63. 

" American Red-backed, p. 

90. 
Sandpiper, Baird's, pp. 82, 234. 

" Bartram's, pp. 139, 158, 

241. 



Sandpiper, Black-bellied, p. 90. 

Bonaparte's, pp. 80, 82. 
" Buff- breasted, pp. 144 

229. 
Sandpiper, Coast, p. 82. 

Cooper's, pp. 79, 234. 
" Coues, p. 235. 

" " Aleutian, pp. 69, 

233- 
Sandpiper, Curlew, pp. 93, 234. 
" Freckled, p. 63. 

" Gray-back, p. 63. 

" Green, pp. 127, 239. 

" Grisled, p. 63. 

Least, pp. 85, 86, 87, 99, 
100, 234. 
Sandpiper, Long-legged, p. 60. 

" Pectoral, pp. 74, 76, 78, 

79, 82, 91, 93, 234. 
Sandpiper, Purple, pp. 66, 67, 69, 71, 

233- 
Sandpiper, Prybiloff, pp. 69, 72, 233, 

235. 
Sandpiper, Red, p. 63. 

" Red-backed, pp. 89, 90 

9h 93, 234. 
Sandpiper, Schinz's, p. 80. 

" Semipalmated, pp. 80, 

86, 97, 99, 228, 237. 
Sandpiper, Sharp-tailed, pp. 74, 87, 

233- 
Sandpiper, Solitary, pp. 122, 123, 

124, 126, 127, 238, 239. 
Sandpiper, Spoon-bill, pp. 95, 230, 

236. 
Sandpiper, Spotted, pp. 135, 147 

203, 230. 
Sandpiper, Stilt, pp. 60, 228. 

" Western, pp. 98, 99, 237. 

" " Solitary, pp. 

126, 239. 



INDEX 



2G5 



Sandpiper, White-rumped, pp. 79, 

80, 234. 
Sandpipers, pp. 17, 18, 54, 62, 124, 
178, 191, 194, 208, 229,236, 237, 
242. 
Sandpipers, Solitary, The, p. 238. 
San Pedro, p. 105. 
San Quentin Bay, p. 210. 
Santa Barbara, p. 212. 

" Margarita Island, pp. 204, 210. 
Saskatchewan, pp. 33, 105, 132, 176 
Plains, pp. 29, 32, 33^ 
105. 
Saskatchewan region, p. 30. 

' ' valley of the, p. 3 2. 

Sea-cook, p. 165. 
Sea-goose, p. 21. 
Seal Islands, pp. 72, 134. 
Seebohm, H., pp. 61, 94, 235. 
Senegambia, p. 205. 
Sennett, G. B., p. 105. 
Scioto River, p. 123. 
Scolopacidae, pp. 220, 224, 226, 227. 
Scolopax, pp. 227, 230, 23' 
" arquata, p. 242. 
" brehmi, p. 44. 
" griseus, p. 231. 
" incanus, p. 240. 
" limosa, p. 237. 
" major, p. 231. 
" minor, p. 230. 
" sabini, p. 44. 
" semipalmata, p. 239. 
" russata, p. 44. 
" rusticola, pp. 37, 230. 
" totanus, p. 238. 
" tricolor, p. 223. 
Shad Bird, p. 47. 

" Spirit, p. 47. 

Shore Bird, p. 70. 

" Birds, p. 17. 



Short-neck, p. 76. 

Shumagin Islands, p. 69. 

Siberia, pp. 22, 25, 44, 45, 82, 108 

120, 168. 
Siberia, Eastern, pp. 174, 206. 
" Northern, p. 167. 
" Western, p. 181. 
Siberian Coast, pp. 69, 74, 95. 
Sickle-bill, pp. 151, 152, 155. 
Silver-back, p. 63. 
Sitka, pp. 50, 69, 83, 9°> "8, 135, 

155, 165, 179, 197. 
Snipe, pp. 17, 18, 19, 26, 47, 48, 

76, 129, 136, 159, 165, 228. 
Snipe, Beach p. 70. 

" Big-headed, p. 39. 

" Big Mud, p. 39. 

" Blind, p. 39. 

" Bog, p. 47. 

" Brant, p. 90. 

" Brown, p. 52. 

" Checkered, p. 199. 

" Cow, p. 76. 

" English, pp. 47, 231. 

" European, pp. 44, 70. 

" Fall, p. 90. 

" Grass, p. 76. 

" Gray, p. 52. 

" Gutter, p. 47. 

" Horse-foot, pp. 63, 199. 

" Jack, pp. 47, 57, 76. 

" Long-billed, pp. 57, 91. 

" Marsh, p. 47. 

" Meadow, p. 76. 

" Prairie, p. 139. 

" Quail, p. 52. 

" Red-bellied, p. 57. 

" Red-breasted, pp. 52, 55, 171. 

" " Western, p. 57. 

" Robin, pp. 50, 52, 63. 

" Silver- back, p. 63. 



266 



INDEX 



Snipe, Tell-tale, p. 115. 

" Teeter, p. 148. 

" Whistling, p. 39. 

" White, pp. 33, 35. 

" White-bellied, p. 63. 

" White Robin, p. 63. 

" Winter, pp. 66, 90. 

" Wilson's, pp. 44, 45, 47, 49, 

231. 
Snipe, Wood, p. 39. 
Snipes, pp. 17, 18, 19, 20, 159, 231, 

242. 
Smoker, p. 152. 
Speculifera symphemia, p. 132. 
Spitzbergen, pp. 22, 181. 
Squatarola, p. 246. 
Squealer, p. 171. 
Squirrel, p. 127. 
Steganopus, pp. 221, 222, 223. 

" tricolor, pp. 30, 223. 

Stejneger, L. W., pp. 74, 87, 135, 

189, 240. 
Stib, p. 90. 
Stilt, pp. 18,34,35,224. 

" Black-necked, p. 34. 
Stilts, p. 225. 

Stint, Long-toed, pp. 87, 234. 
Stone Bird, p. 115. 
St. Augustine, p. 152. 
St. Lawrence Bay, p. 83. 

" Island, pp. 72, 174, 

179. 
St. Matthew's Island, p. 72. 
St. Michael's " pp. 64, 69, 74, 

77, 83, 99, 107, 135, 152, 155, 

159, 161, 197. 
Streaked-back, p. 199. 
Striped-head, p. 156. 
Surf Bird, pp. 197, 249- 
Symphemia, pp. 228, 239. 

" semipalmata, pp. 131, 240. 



Symphemia semipalmata speculifera, 
PP. I3 2 > 2 40- 

Taimyr Peninsula, p. 181. 
Tattler, Wandering, pp. 18, 134, 

197, 230. 
Tattler, Wood, p. 122. 
Tattlers, pp. 229, 238. 
Tehauantepec, Isthmus of, p. 27. 
Tell-tale, p. 118. 
Terns, p. 192. 

Texas, State of, pp. 32, 33, 97, 99, 
105,129, 131, 132, 139,184, 186, 
187, 188, 214, 215, 253. 
Thrush, p. 127. 
Tildillo, p. 35. 
Tilt, p. 35. 
Tilt-up, p. 147. 
Timber-doodle, pp. 39, 231. 
Toad-head, p. 171. 
Totanus, pp. 226, 229, 238. 

" flavipes, pp. 119, 239. 

" glareola, p. 239. 

" glottis, p. 239. 

" littoreus, pp. 120, 239. 

" melanoleucus, pp. 1 1 7, 239. 

" ochropus, pp. 128, 239. 

" solitarius, pp. 124, 126, 

239. 
Totanus solitarius cinnamomeus, pp. 

126, 239. 
Tres Marias Islands, p. 209. 
Tringa,pp. 19, 226,229,232,233, 237 
Tringa alpina, pp. 89, 234, 235. 

" " pacifica, pp. 92, 234. 

" acuminata, pp. 74, 233. 

" arenaria, p. 237. 

" bairdi, pp. 83, 234. 

" canutus, pp. 65, 232, 233. 

" cooperi, pp. 79, 234. 

" Coot -footed, p. 2i. 



INDEX 



26" 



Tringa couesl, pp. 73, 235. 

" damacensis, pp. 87, 234. 

" ferruginea, pp. 94, 236. 

" fulicaria, p. 222. 

" fuscicollis, pp. 81, 234. 

" glareola, p. 239. 

" himantopus, p. 232. 

" hypoleucus, p. 241. 

" interpres, p. 250. 

" lobata, p. 223, 

" longicauda, p. 241. 

" maculataj pp. 78, 234. 

" maritima, pp. 67, 233, 234, 

235. 
Tringa maritima couesi, pp. 70, 73, 

233. 
Tringa maritima ptilocnemis, pp. 73, 

233, 235. 
Tringa minuta, p. 235. 

4< minutilla, pp. 82, 86, 234. 

" pugnax, p. 240. 

" pusilla, p. 236. 

" ptilocnemis, p. 235. 

" squatarola, p. 246. 

" subarquata, p. 234. 

" subruficollis, p. 241. 

" vanellus, p. 245. 

" virgata, p. 249. 
Trinidad, p. 65. 
Tryngitis, pp. 229, 241. 

" subruficollis, p. 145. 
Turkestan, p. 181. 

" Eastern, p. 189. 
Turnstone, pp. 199, 200, 201, 202, 

203, 250. 
Turnstone, Black, pp. 201, 203, 249, 

250. 
Turnstone, Plover-billed, p. -197. 
Turnstones, pp. 18, 201, 220, 249. 
" The, p. 249, 250. 



United States, The, pp. 29, 35, 

47, 58, 61, 63, 67, 76, 83, 105, 

IIO, II5,Il8, 122, 123,132,152, 

155,156,165,170,175,178,187, 
195, 214, 226. 

United States, Eastern, pp. 33, 39. 

" " Northern, p. 35. 

" " Western, p. 195. 
Uruguay, p. 145. 
Utah, Territory of, pp. 29, 30, 32. 

Vancouver Island, p. 153; 
Vanellus, pp. 244, 245. 

" vanellus, p. 163. 
Vermont, State of, p. 123. 
Virginia, State of, pp. 167, 185, 191. 

" West, p. 156. 

Washington, State of, p. 64. 

Waukegan, p. 186. 

Western coast, p. 161. 

West Indies, pp. 35, 50, 55, 61, 65, 

78, 81, 98, 124, 131, 153, 156, 

167, 171, 176, 179, 185, 192. 
Western States, The, pp. 34, 139. 
Whale Bird, pp. 21, 22. 
Whimbrel, pp. 162, 243. 

" American, p. 156. 
Whistler, p. 39. 
White-rump, p. no. 
Willet, pp. 129, 153, 155, 228, 239, 

240. 
Willet, Carolina, p. 1 10. 

" Western, pp. 132, 240. 
Willets, pp. 54, 130, 228. 
Winnipeg, Lake, pp. 106, 186. 
Wisconsin, State of, pp. 29, 117, 

184, 186. 
Woodcock, pp. 19, 39, 40, 41, 42, 

48, 49, 230, 231. 
Woodcock, American, pp. 39, 228. 



268 



INDEX 



Woodcock, European, pp. 37, 227, 

230. 
Woodcocks and Snipes, pp. 220, 

226. 
Wyoming, State of, p. 32. 

Yellow- legs, pp. 54, 129, 238. 

Bi g, PP. "5, "6, 
117, 118, 119. 
Yellow-legs, Greater, pp. 115, 1 1 8, 

239- 
Yellow-legs, Little, pp. 18, 60, 1 18, 

239- 



Yellow-legs, Summer, p. 118. 

" Winter, p. 115. 

Yellow-shins, p. 1 15. 
Yelper, p. 115. 
Yenisei, p. 168. 

" valley of the, pp. 168, 174. 
Yucatan, p. 106. 
Yukon, Fort, p. ill. 

River, pp. 21,52, 57,58,64, 
78, 83, 90, 99, 102, 107, 108, 
in, 118, 119, 124, 134, 135, 
139, 143, 144, 156, 159, 165, 
167, 179. 



- m 


_ m 


- ^ 


_ ^=3 



Uef MF)VO F 



Egress 





